The Rotobahn 500 (updated 9/5)

Posted on August 28, 2018

Finally! The rankings have grown, and now include team DEF and, as requested, even PKs. The 500 is going to be updated often until drafting ends next Wednesday so check back when your draft is upon you for the most up-to-date rankings.The individual positional rankings may lag behind a bit, so always come here first as the cheat sheets and the 500 will always be current.

For those of you who are new to the site, The 500 is designed to be a great drafting tool.If you use the search box just above the table and to the right, you can search the database at light speed—as you type.Just start typing what you are looking for and that player or group of players will pop up.Try keywords like “sleeper”, “handcuff” or “ceiling” and see what you get.If you want a specific player, just start typing his first or last name.Type in a team abbreviation to see a specific depth chart.

It might sound unexciting, but having quick info, right at your fingertips, can be quite useful when you are under the gun in a live draft.Ever try to search for player info while you are on the clock?You can actually do that when using The 500.

If you want Rotobahn’s take on a player, you are never more than a few keystrokes away and the entire page is preloaded.No waiting for page loads!

Try it out!

The rankings are based on .5 PPR scoring. The overall ranking is the far left column. The second column, marked P-Rank, gives you the player’s positional ranking.

***UPDATE*** Le’Veon Bell’s situation is evolving in real time, so make sure you have the most up-to-date info when you draft. No way am I taking him top 4 no matter what, but he’s still viable at 5 and beyond–depending on your tolerance for risk.

It’s also crucial that you move PIT RB John Conner up in your ranks–even higher than I did in the afternoon update. He’s going to be a strong RB2 option or better for as long as Bell remains out. This is fluid, so be careful not to go crazy, but I’m looking at him once 100 players are gone.

I have updated a lot of the players based on the most recent injury info. If you search the keyword “update”, you’ll find all of them.

Rankings are based on .5 PPR scoring.

Rotobahn500-9-5-FINAL

Rank

P-Rank

PLAYER

POS

Team

BYE

The Skinny

1

1

Todd Gurley

RB

LAR

12

He’s a very safe option as he’s healthy and he’s returning to the same scheme run by the same people with the same quarterback under which he has such great success in 2017. He’s the consensus number one pick in most scoring formats, and I have no problem if you choose to go that way. Gurley is a fantasy monster.

2

2

David Johnson

RB

ARI

9

It should be all systems go for the star runner who also plays like a wide receiver. Johnson has the most diverse skill set of any RB in the NFL to date. Maybe Saquon Barkley joins the club soon, but DJ is truly special. The good news is that he’s returning from a non-leg injury. The bad news is that Bruce Arians retired. That’s bad no matter how you slice it. Arians may not have been perfect but he got the most out of his lead backs in the passing game. It remains to be seen if the new OC Mike McCoy can be as imaginative with RB route design. He has no positive history in this area.

3

1

Brown, Antonio

WR

PIT

7

His production speaks for itself and he’s still near the top of his athletic peak. No reason to shy away. There is some mild concern with the change at OC (Todd Haley is now in CLE), but the Big Ben-Brown connection runs deep, and I’m not all that worried.

4

3

Ezekiel Elliott

RB

DAL

8

Zeke’s the total package. He runs it like a monster but he’s also one of the best blockers you will ever find at the position, and, this year, I think we see a bump in his receiving totals. He’s got a better shot at being the overall RB1 than folks think—even in PPR scoring. The Dallas OL is strong and Zeke’s their best offensive player who isn’t a lineman. He’s going to touch the ball a ton. It doesn’t hurt that he’s coming off of a low volume year due to missing six games via suspension.

5

4

Le’Veon Bell

RB

PIT

7

He’s a proven heavy lifter for fantasy purposes, but there are some concerns if you are thinking about taking him ahead of Gurley or Elliott. First, you have the holdout, which probably doesn’t last into the season, but will effect what kind of football shape Bell is in, but there’s a bigger concern. It’s one thing to hold out when you know the scheme cold, but the Steelers changed OCs this offseason. Todd Haley is out and Randy Fichtner is in. Fichtner, who predates Haley in the Steel City, will bring a degree of continuity, but if you think he’s not making some changes, you are kidding yourself. Bell will be a bit behind on the changes. Not a huge deal, but it could impact him early on. The bigger concern is the Peter Principle. Fichtner is at a new level. While he could be the next great thing, he could also be gone quickly. We just don’t know yet. Mike Tomlin is a big picture guy and a defensive coach at his core. This will be Fichtner’s show for the most part. So while Bell is a great talent—worthy of a high pick, he’s also got some shifting ground under his feet. I’m not taking him over Gurley or Elliott. ***UPDATE*** Bell’s now officially a holdout of sorts. My guess is that he shows up just in tme to miss no game checks—probably Friday or Saturday. Should this change the way you value him? Probably not too much. I was already downgrading him in Week 1 anyway and my guess is that he’s back for Week 2. James Conner is looking more important than ever if you do decide to roll with bell early.

6

2

Beckham, Odell

WR

NYG

9

He’s right there with the top two, but there are some contract concerns. IF OBJ holds out at all, the potential for soft tissue injury increases. Once or if he signs, he becomes a locked in fantasy stud. Last year’s injury was a fluky one. Beckham is not soft and can play with some pain. Beckham is a defendable choice as high as four overall in my view as long as you are willing to not worry about the contract. But in my best George Costanza, I have to say, I’m a little bit worried about the contract.

7

5

Kareem Hunt

RB

KC

12

If not for some skittish usage by Andy Reid and company, I’d be all-in on Hunt this year. There was a seven game stretch right in the heart of the season, where Hunt’s workload dried up. The playing time was there, but not the touches. My guess is that it’s not a huge concern. If we can assume that we won’t see a similar pattern in 2018, Hunt could easily be undervalued as a late first round pick. If we see a repeat, he’s still a pretty solid pick.

8

6

Leonard Fournette

RB

JAX

9

The temptation with Fournette is to buy in and expect a huge 2018. There are plenty of reasons why this could happen. It’s certainly within his reasonable range of outcomes. Just understand that he’s got some injury concerns that date back to college. To me, a repeat of 2017 is just as likely as a big step forward. As for the injuries, this is a guy who only played 7 games at LSU in 2016. Then he misses three as a rookie in Jacksonville due to ankle and quad injuries. He has the feel of a guy who will get some ankle stuff and when it happens, it’ll linger longer than with most. The good news is that he’s a power back in a power scheme with a defense that will keep getting the ball back for him. I’m comfy with Fournette near the first turn, which is right about where he’s being taken. I’m not reaching for him, but in that 11-14 range, I’ll consider adding some shares.

9

3

Hopkins, DeAndre

WR

HOU

10

If Will Fuller stays healthy all season, then Hopkins could see a slight volume reduction, but he’s been so efficient that it’s hard to downgrade him much. He’s a lock for WR1 production if he stays healthy, which he’s done for the most part.

10

7

Alvin Kamara

RB

NO

6

I’ve definitely gained a measure of respect for Kamara, who I probably undersold a bit last year. He landed in his absolute dream scheme with Payton and Brees. While I have some mild concerns about Kamara’s life after Brees, who turns 40 in January, he’s on very solid ground for 2018. He’ll be the unchallenged lead back while Mark Ingram serves his four game suspension and should outperform Ingram all year. The key thing to grasp, in my view, is that the Saints use their backs so often, that a good player like Kamara can get a game’s worth of touches while only playing 50-60 percent of the snaps. I wouldn’t worry about Ingram too much. In the same vein, Ingram can still get enough action to be a good RB2 once he returns.

11

8

Melvin Gordon

RB

LAC

8

Gordon’s a true workhorse and I see no reason why that should change in 2018. At some point, the workloads will catch up to him, but that’s a dynasty owner’s concern. Draft him with confidence anywhere from mid round one on. He’s good in all types of scoring,

12

4

Jones, Julio

WR

ATL

8

He’s often available in round two which is a joke. The reasons to fade Jones are few and far between. He’s playing his age 29 season and is still near the top of his game. While he has played through some injuries, he’s only missed three games over the last four seasons. This guy is straight money at the first turn. Enjoy the value.

13

9

Saquon Barkley

RB

NYG

9

Spin the wheel, win a prize. I have a lot of love for this kid’s talent, but to buy into him as a fantasy monster requires a few leaps of faith. The first is buying into Barkley as a NFL back. That’s easy. I’m in. The second requires trust in the Giants new braintrust. That one’s a bit tougher. There’s a traditionalist streak in the building and for Barkley to truly explode as a fantasy asset, he needs a forward thinking OC, like Bruce Arians or Sean Payton among others. If Barkley gets a traditional NFL RB workload. He’ll be good as a rookie. If the Giants do all they can to unlock his entire skill set, then he could be a star from the first play. Obviously there’s some space between the two scenarios, but to me, this is the key question for those wondering what his true rookie range of outcomes is. To me, the cost the Giants incurred by drafting Barkley all but assures a big workload, and that makes him a legit round one option for fantasy leagues. In PPR this guy has the upside to be the RB1—IF the Giants use him to the max and it clicks. This guy is another David Johnson is terms of how broad his skill set is.

14

10

Christian McCaffrey

RB

CAR

4

Liking him quite a bit this year. Whether you love Norv Turner, or hate him like I do, he has some strengths, and the screen game is one of them. I expect improvement from Cam Newton with some of the little things. I expect similar receiving production from McCaffrey, but with a significant bump in carries—including carries near the stripe. He’s a potential league-winner if he slips to the third round in a full PPR format.

15

5

Thomas, Michael

WR

NO

6

The great thing about Thomas is that he’s straight good at playing football. His stats are repeatable because he’s the genuine article. He’s got the size, hands and route work to play against any cornerback. That’s important, too, as N.O. has a tough run of matchups weeks 7-12. The playoff matchups are good, so he could be an interesting trade target around the deadline.

16

6

Allen, Keenan

WR

LAC

8

It’s hard to not love him now after showing off full health in 2017. Gates is no longer a target monster—even in the red zone, and that’s if he plays at all. Hunter Henry, a threat to siphon some inside targets, is out for the year. Allen is going to see the ball a ton, and he avoids some of the better corners by playing so much inside. All systems go.

17

1

Gronkowski, Rob

TE

NE

11

The retirement drama is over for now and the best tight end in NFL history assumes his place at the top of the pile. Depending on your league’s scoring and roster dynamics, Gronk is viable as early as 14 overall. I expect a return to moster fantasy production.

18

7

Green, A.J.

WR

CIN

9

He’s no longer at his peak, but he’s a great talent so there’s really no reason to run away from Green at his age 30 season. He posted good numbers last year despite playing for a brutal and unbalanced team. The situation is much better this year and I expect a return to WR1 form—probably a top ten guy.

19

2

Kelce, Travis

TE

KC

12

He’s a stud and he finally has a QB who can make all throws. This will open up new routes and new ways to exploit safeties and linebackers. The only thing holding Kelce back are the other stud receivers in K.C. Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill will get there too. Still, Kelce is going to a great option.

20

8

Hilton, T.Y.

WR

IND

9

If Luck is back, Hilton could be in for a huge year. Right now he’s a big value who can often be had late in round three. If the worst happens, and Luck goes down, Hilton will still be a solid player. He did enough with Brissett at QB to hope for more in 2018. This guy is being under-drafted.

21

11

Howard, Jordan

RB

CHI

5

Always an underrated talent. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tarik Cohen. I actually drafted him in rookie drafts last year before he was a name. Just be careful when you start extrapolating his game into unreasonable levels of volume. Cohen is 179 pounds. Carry volume is his enemy, not his friend. Ideal usage for him would be 12-15 touches per game and the more of those touches they can get him in the pass game, the better. Enter Howard, who is a punishing runner who can also rip off big runs. This is a really good backfield combo and both players should touch the football often. With this offense on the rise overall, I expect Howard’s goal line opportunities to increase.

22

9

Adams, Davante

WR

GB

7

Rotobahners know I love Davante, and he’s a good bet for volume in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. There’s a lot to like here, but I do have some concerns about concussions, especially if he’s getting a lot of targets. I’ll definitely have some Adams exposure, but thankfully there are other players I like in this area of the draft????

23

10

Diggs, Stefon

WR

MIN

10

Diggs is a potential star who could be on the precipice of a breakout. His new QB, Kirk Cousins, throws all the routes that Diggs crushes and throws them at a high level. This pairing has a chance to be special. By my math, 16 games of Cousins to Diggs should yield strong WR1 production. He’s a potential league winner if you nab him late in the third round. He’s a good pick from the middle of round two or later—later obviously being preferred.

24

12

Dalvin Cook

RB

MIN

10

He’s overpriced right now. I’m just not comfortable taking a guy this high (early round two) when he’s coming off of an ACL. It’s not insane, but you are buying him close to his ceiling. I can think of a few reasons why Minny might not overwork Cook. The biggest one is that they are a team built to go deep into the playoffs, and Cook’s a big part of the plan. Latavius Murray will be a strong candidate for clock killing duty and should mix in on early downs on a fairly regular basis. My guess is a 65/35 share in Cook’s favor—assuming Cook’s knee comes back as expected. Part of this outlook leans on Minnesota playing in a lot of “good” game scripts.

25

13

Mixon, Joe

RB

CIN

9

The good for Joe Mixon, is that he’s a big three down back with some genuinely stunning skills. The bad news is that the Bengals have two other highly talented backs on the team in Gio Bernard and rookie Mark Walton. Both are capable of stealing receptions/targets from Mixon. Will they turn him into Alex Collins? I doubt it, but Mixon cannot afford to be lacking in passing situations or he’ll lose reps. In leagues that reward receptions heavily, this is a concern. The early retursn from preseason Week 1 were very good. Mixon was used on the outside as a receiver and posted a highlight reel score. That momentum and preview of potential usage is a very good sign. Mixon is costly enough to be risky, but he’s got a league-winning ceiling. I’m definitely interested near the round 2/3 turn. I’v ebumped him up a few slots. If the Bengals deal Gio to a RB needy team, then I am really going to lean in.

26

14

Devonta Freeman

RB

ATL

8

I’m a big fan of Devonta Freeman. If you’re a long time Rotobahner, you know this. The thing is, I’m also pretty enamored with Tevin Coleman, who has been impressive in the time he’s been given. Freeman’s contract and lead role has made him the perceived back to own, but I’m not so sure. I think Coleman could take this gig and flip the script at some point. Or, perhaps, he could just gain even footing with Freeman for a time. The bottom line is that Freeman is unlikely to see a lion’s share with Coleman healthy. He’s a proven commodity, but unless Atlanta’s offense explodes, he’s not a guy with much ceiling—a strong RB2.

27

11

Thielen, Adam

WR

MIN

10

There’s a volume ceiling because there are a lot of guys who need the ball in this offense, but there’s also a very stable WR2 floor because Thielen is an outstanding route runner with good size. He’s a threat in all situations and he’s got an improved quarterback. Buy with confidence.

28

12

Hill, Tyreek

WR

KC

12

I’d rather buy Sammy Watkins at his far cheaper ADP, but I love Hill combined with Patrick Mahomes. He’s a far better fit for his game than Alex Smith. Hill’s no value in redraft but his long term dynasty outlook is very solid.

29

3

Ertz, Zach

TE

PHI

9

Ertz is locked in as an elite TE1. He’ll be going early in most formats and I’m willing to invest. There’s very little downside to him. He has a plus relationship with both Wentz and with Foles if there is an injury.

30

13

Evans, Mike

WR

TB

5

I’m fading Evans a bit because he’s going to be playing with Ryan Fitzpatrick and because his schedule is brutal early on. My intent is to add some Evans shares after the slow start. I think that’s the way to win the Evans game in 2018.

31

15

Drake, Kenyan

RB

MIA

11

I am loving Frank Gore right now. Kallen Ballage is helping a bit too. The idea that either one of these guys is going to kill Drake’s value is almost laughable to me. Will Gore play some? I hope so, because one thing Drake’s never done is handle a lead back load. He had a TOTAL of 233 carries in four years at Alabama. That said, the back who Miami wants on the field HAS to be Drake. He’s explosive and he’s explosive as a runner and as a receiver—a true dual threat. Gore is a plodder and Ballage is a green tweener. Drake’s time is right now. Don’t expect a RB1 workload, though it’s not out of the equation, just expect solid RB2 results. I’m buying without hesitation at his current ADP, which is late round three to mid round four, thank you Gore.

32

16

Collins, Alex

RB

BAL

10

Here’s a player I underestimated from a fantasy standpoint. Collins was always a strong sustaining runner with some attitude and a lust for contact. We knew that, but he showed a bit more big play ability than I thought he’d bring to NFL ball. He’s still a somewhat vulnerable long term asset, as Alf Morris once was, but a solid early down role in 2018 seems locked in. He’s a safe RB2 option, especially in non-PPR.

33

14

Cooper, Amari

WR

OAK

7

I expect a huge bounce back under Gruden, who is smart enough to know who his best players are. It’s not complicated. He should be healthier (back) and the targets are a near lock. You can get round one upside in round four or late round three.

34

15

Landry, Jarvis

WR

CLE

11

I’ve always been a big believer in Landry as a football player, and he landed in a good spot when he chose Cleveland. He gets a QB upgrade and if Josh Gordon fails to resurrect himself, Landry could get big volume. He’s a wonderful long term fit with Baker Mayfield. I see synergy in that pairing.

35

17

Ajayi, Jay

RB

PHI

9

You want a league winner in round 3-5? Ajayi could be your man. Sure, he wasn’t a volume guy in Philly last year and sure, he’s got a knee condition that could worsen over time. The thing is, we only need one season out of him, and based on what we’ve seen, that’s not a stretch. So, you have a good back in a great situation and no other alpha talents to usurp him. He won’t get a Gurley/Bell/Elliott workload, but I strongly suspect that he’ll get a solid increase from what we saw in 2017 on a per game basis. To me, the upside is well worth the risks at his current ADP. To me, he’s a viable option starting in late round two, but you can obviously get him later.

36

16

Fitzgerald, Larry

WR

ARI

9

He’s a solid asset, but there’s change in the air in Arizona. New HC and new QBs.

37

17

Baldwin, Doug

WR

SEA

7

He’s in for a potentially huge season. Nobody else in the NFL has a stronger connection with their QB, and when you combine that with his undisputed number one status on his own team, you have a strong floor with big upside if the TDs fall his way. He’s absolute money in the third round of PPR drafts. I am not afraid to go after him in round two as well. This guy is underrated. **I have downgraded Baldwin just a tick, but may move him back up if we get good news on his knee. Right now it appears that he will be ready for Week 1.

38

18

Smith-Schuster, JuJu

WR

PIT

7

JuJu has game and he’ll be a solid WR3 this year who will give you a fair amount of WR1 weeks.

39

19

Cooks, Brandin

WR

LAR

12

I see no reason to shy away from Cooks in his new home. You just need to have realistic expectations. Cooks speed will give him a defined role and with teams in fear of Todd Gurley, the lid of the defense is there for the lifting. He may be a bit boom or bust, but as long as WR1 digits aren’t the expectation, you should do fine.

40

18

Ingram, Mark

RB

NO

6

For the fantasy shopper with discerning tastes, I offer you one of the more compelling bargains available to you this season. It’s never fun to draft the less sexy back in a two back rotation, but in Ingram’s case, I’ll gladly make an exception, because I can get a solid or perhaps even high-end RB2 at RB3 prices. Yes, I will have to wait out his 4-game suspension, but this guy was a RB1 last year and he has plenty of tread left on his tires.

41

20

Thomas, Demaryius

WR

DEN

10

He’s a good bet for his usual volume and he gets a QB upgrade, albeit, just a medium one. Case Keenum is solid and that should be enough whne you look at how Denver tends to use Thomas. Lot’s of slants and drags and such. It’s about timing, feel and accuracy and Keenum is better than Trevor Siemian on all counts.

42

21

Jones, Marvin

WR

DET

6

Jones is a solid WR in his prime. A repeat of 2017 seems like a fair projection. He and Golladay should be the primary red zone targets, so a repeat of his 9 TDs is certainly possible—perhaps even a modest increase if Detroit does well.

43

19

Miller, Lamar

RB

HOU

10

Game flow. It’s so much about that for Miller. When things are going good for Houston, they will go well for Miller. So do you buy into Deshaun Watson staying healthy? If you do, then Miller is a solid mid-round value. I’ve landed him as late as round seven in best ball drafts. That could end up being straight theft. Most of the recent drafts I have been in have Miller going in the fifth round somewhere, which is still good money if you need an RB at that stage.

44

20

McCoy, LeSean

RB

BUF

11

Let somebody else deal with Shady. I was concerned about him hitting the age wall anyway and he’s on an awful team for the near term. As talented as he is, he will be the absolute focal point for every defense he faces this season, and that’s if he plays at all. If this situation with his ex-girlfriend is anything close to what it looks like, he’s done, and who’d want him on their team anyway? None for me, thanks.

45

4

Engram, Evan

TE

NYG

9

Most of you know of my man crush on Evan Engram. He’s a stud and since he plays in an offense with Odell Beckham and Saquon Barkley, defenses will not be keying on him. I see a lot of big explosion plays from Engram this year. He can be a TE1 with less volume than he received in 2017. This guy can play X receiver and that’s no stretch. He’s a hugely underrated talent who does not need heavy targets to produce TE1 numbers in this offense. Ten touchdowns is well within his range of outcomes. ***UPDATE*** He’s cleared his concussion protocol and should be good to go.

46

22

Watkins, Sammy

WR

KC

12

He plays a tough schedule, and he has other great players who will also get the ball, but I LOVE this landing spot for Watkins. You could not find a better QB for his skill set than Mahomes, who throws a filthy deep out and who can find ways to complete passes than most QBs can only dream off. Yeah, he’ll throw picks as he finds his way, but that will have a negligible effect on his receiver’s stats. I’ll gladly accept some stalled drives to have that kind of aggression.

47

1

Rodgers, Aaron

QB

GB

7

His injury is fully healed and he’s the best QB on the planet right now. He’s an easy choice as my QB1, but I am not going to roster him because he’ll go far too soon for my liking.

48

23

Hogan, Chris

WR

NE

11

Hogan is a real sleeper outside of the NE market. He’s going to be heavily involved early on with Edelman out, but should carry high-end WR3 appeal all season long. His 2017 numbers are depressed because he missed so much time with a shoulder injury, but if you look what he did after his return, in the playoffs, there’s reason for excitement. This is a guy who was playing nearly every snap before the shoulder injury. Draft him as a high-end WR3 and hope for more.

49

24

Gordon, Josh

WR

CLE

11

Do you feel lucky, punk? Gordon has league-winning upside, especially at his current ADP, but along with that you get a solid case of the sweats. The closer we get to Week 1 with no problems, the higher up boards he should climb. His QB situation has improved and has some redundancy now with both Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield in the fold. The big question, obviously, is what caused his camp absence and how long will said absence last? For now, I am counseling avoidance, but that could change fast if he shows up ready to go. ****Update**** Ok, so he’s back. This is great news, but don’t kid yourself into thinking that he’s now over the hump. He’s still a volatile asset, but as I said at teh outset, an asset with league-winning upside. That upside is even more real now that the Browns have some real quarterbacks. He’s a viable pick anytime in or after round four. Just take him with your eyes wide open. It can all blow up at any time. ***UPDATE*** Gordon is looking good to play Week 1 so if you are in need of some upside, he’s looking about as good as we could hope. Still, keep your eyes wide open. The risks are as real as teh potential.

50

25

Robinson, Allen

WR

CHI

5

Color me skeptical here relative to his ADP. While A-Rob has legit talent, he has two things going against him. First, he’s switching teams and QBs. In the long run, it could very well be a plus, but right now, it’s an unknown. Speaking of unknowns, Robinson is coming off of an ACL injury, and there are never any guarantees with ACLs, especially right out of the gate. Year two is often better than year one after such a major injury. Could Robinson have a big year? Sure, I’m just not inclined to bet on it at the current prices.

51

21

Freeman, Royce

RB

DEN

10

I’ve been a Freeman fan for years, but I’m a bit surprised that Devontae Booker is being cast aside so easily by so many pundits. Freeman has some nice three down skills, but a typical rookie curve would not surprise me. Meanwhile, there are plenty of talented backs in this backfield. If you draft early, I’d be careful not to reach too far for Freeman until he’s named starter. He’s definitely looking good so far. If I could only have one Denver back, it would definitely be him, but it’s all about what you have to pay.

52

26

Tate, Golden

WR

DET

6

You know what you are getting with Tate to some extent. You expect 90 grabs and about 1,000 yards with 4-6 scores. Solid stuff, especially in PPR. There is some concern with the emergence of Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay. There could be more running with Matt Patricia running the show. We’ll have to see about how he changes things. Still, I think Tate’s base numbers should stay the same or close to it. He’s a very safe WR2 in PPR and a WR3 in non-PPR.

53

5

Graham, Jimmy

TE

GB

7

Touchdowns. With Jimmy you should get touchdowns—perhaps in double digit land. The question is, does his downward trend continue? Graham has not run well in recent years—likely related to age and his patella injury back in 2015. I have a sneaky suspicion that he could run a bit better in 2018, because he’s healthier than he’s been, but that’s pure speculation. I want to pay for his floor and hope for his ceiling, so I need him to last a bit beyond his current round six ADP.

54

6

Olsen, Greg

TE

CAR

4

He should be healthy heading into 2018 and he’s got a great rapport with Cam Newton. Norv Turner’s arrival as OC does nothing to diminish Olsen’s chances. In fact, he could help him with his route design skills. I’m pretty bullish on Olsen in full PPR leagues. Less so in non-PPR.

55

2

Wilson, Russell

QB

SEA

7

Wilson will be forced into his highest pass volume season to date. Seattle can talk up their new commitment to the ground, but until they match it with a top flight defense, it’s just bluster. This team will be playing from behind more often and in shootouts more often. The stage is set for Wilson’s best fantasy season ever.

56

27

Sanders, Emmanuel

WR

DEN

10

Fantasy GMs have short memories sometimes. It seems that folks have forgotten how good Sanders can be when healthy, and he looks to be just that as we head into 2018. So don’t get too caught up in a lost 2017 campaign. Instead, focus on his depressed price tag and his new quarterback. Case Keenum throws Sanders’ oft run routes well and likes to target his slot receivers. I fully expect Sanders to play a ton of inside snaps because rookie Courtland Sutton will be playing a lot and he’s an outside threat. In full PPR scoring, Sanders is a pretty solid value. I drafted him in a Football Guys expert league a few days ago, in the eighth round at 89 overall. I was thrilled.

57

22

Henry, Derrick

RB

TEN

8

I have to say that I found it strange that Tennessee spent so much on Dion Lewis. I expected Henry to get a crack at a volume role this season, but now it appears that Henry is still stuck in committee to some extent. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Henry will now cost you a lot less than he would have before. I also can’t help but think that the younger bigger more durable back will get the bigger share of the snaps, touches and goal line. I think he still sports a RB1 ceiling and should safely return RB2 value. That makes him a solid buy at his RB2 ADP.

58

28

Agholor, Nelson

WR

PHI

9

Love has value right now because he’s healthy and he’s on the same page with his QB. Agholor made a lot of impact plays last year and can handle a step up in volume. His TD total may be tough to replicate, but if he can come close, he could have a better season than he did in 2017. He also has some breakout potential. He hasn’t reached his ceiling. Just the kind of guy I am looking to target in the 8th (earliest) round and beyond. He slips often enough where I do not want to reach for him.

59

29

Davis, Corey

WR

TEN

8

I don’t HAVE to have Davis on my team, but I want him if I can get him cheap enough. The issue with Davis, for me anyways, is his first half schedule and health. He fought injury much of last year and has been dinged in camp. I think he has big breakout potential and he could be a league-winning pick if you get him late enough. My take is that he’s going to a significant fantasy asset—a locked in weekly starter—once he gets past his Week 8 bye. So, if I have built a team that should be competitive early, I like adding Davis in round seven or therabouts. If I already have some risky guys and “second half” guys on my team, then Davis is probably a luxury I cannot afford. Guys like Mark Ingram and Julian Edelman for example, or a few rookie RBs like Penny and Kerryon. You have to be careful about putting yourself in too big of a hole. So I like Davis, a lot, but remember, horses for courses. That leads me to plan B. If you do not land him of draft day, he could be savvy add via trade as he heads into his bye, given the right circumstances.

60

30

Woods, Robert

WR

LAR

12

Always an underrated player, Woods could be on the verge of his breakout season. He has a great rapport with Jared Goff and this will be his second season in Sean McVay’s offense. Woods was on pace to hit 1K last year, but an injury cost him three games and part of a fourth. In the end, he came up 219 yards short. If he plays 16 this year, I think he gets there and he’ll pick up roughly 7 touchdowns along the way. Dependable WR3 production.

61

23

Burkhead, Rex

RB

NE

11

He’s got hidden upside because he could score a ton of times if Sony Michel struggles or has ball security issues. Even if Michael is all that, he won’t touch what Burkhead can do in terms of routes. The Pats will play 2-3 backs each week and Rex will be in that rotation unless he’s hurt.

62

31

Kupp, Cooper

WR

LAR

12

Kupp put together a monster rookie season, especially when you consider where he came from—a 3rd round pick out of Eastern Washington. I see no reason why Kupp’s ascent won’t continue. He’s a diverse route runner with tremendous hands and highly underrated ability after the catch. He’s a steal right now with an ADP of 92. I’m targeting him in the 7th and 8th rounds of PPR leagues.

63

32

Goodwin, Marquise

WR

SF

11

He’s had a long history of injuries but he finally strung a full season together in 2017. He was also largely healthy in 2016—his final season in Buffalo. If you are a long time Rotobahn reader, you know both Coach Turner and I liked Goodwin when he came out of Texas five years ago. This is a guy with true world class speed but is not just a speed guy. It would not surprise me at all if he was the 49ers WR1 this year, and by a safe margin. It’s all about health.

64

33

Fuller, Will

WR

HOU

10

Fuller is a play-to-win pick in my view, but he’s been hurt enough where you have to understand the risks. The bottom line is that he will often be feasting on the weaker corner.

65

24

Coleman, Tevin

RB

ATL

8

I’m definitely targeting Coleman in drafts this year. He’s a great option if you are chasing RBs in the middle rounds. He becomes viable in or around the middle of round five, but he can often be had in the sixth. You are paying about a round over his floor, but he’s a guy who could explode if Devonta Freeman misses time and I expect him to have his biggest year to date no matter what Freeman’s status is. One interesting nugget with this backfield — Freeman and Coleman played snaps together every week in 2017—assuming both backs played. It’s a lineup that could gain some steam this year as Coleman has more route ability than the average back. He can run vertical routes from the slot and he runs a decent slant if you can believe it. He’s a legit chess piece. It’s also worth noting that Coleman has increased his carry total substantially every season. I think he has an outside shot at 200 carries if he plays 16 games.

66

25

Michel, Sony

RB

NE

11

So much going on when it comes to Sony’s 2018 valuation. You have NE’s history of using three backs. You have Burkhead back and he’s capable of stealing goal line work as is James White. Still, when you look at what NE paid to get Michel and the fact that they allowed Dion Lewis to walk, you have to assume that they WANT Michel to play, and play quite a bit. He and Burkhead could both score ten times if they both stay healthy. Not kidding. ***UPDATE**** It’s looking increasingly likely that Sony will miss Week 1 though probably not much more with his knee injury. I’ve moved him down a few pegs.

67

34

Edelman, Julian

WR

NE

11

He’s still going in rounds 6-7 despite the suspension. In full PPR, I can see it, but I won’t lie, I just don’t want Edelman that badly. There are better options available who will help me right away.

68

35

Jeffery, Alshon

WR

PHI

9

His star has fallen to some degree, but he’s still a big talent and now is working with a top shelf quarterback. The big issue I have with AJ this year is his shoulder (rotator cuff) surgery. He could be a good guy to fade and then acquire via trade. My take is that he’s more likely to be better in the second half and the same goes for his QB, who is coming off ACL reconstruction.

69

36

Crowder, Jamison

WR

WAS

4

If he stays healthy, he should be a PPR demon. He runs the rotes that Alex Smith is best suited to throw and he can get good separation out of breaks. Things are well aligned for JC this year. I’m a buyer.

70

26

Lynch, Marshawn

RB

OAK

7

Lynch didn’t embarrass himself in 2017. He ran pretty well, but he was far from BEAST-MODE. Maybe he could flourish if the Raiders take off and get him more goal line chances. I also think he’s a better player when he’s amped up and playing in bigger games. It’s just my gut, but I think Lynch is only as good as the Raiders. If you believe in Gruden, then Lynch makes sense. He’s shaping up as a potential vaue in the middle rounds.

71

7

Burton, Trey

TE

CHI

5

Returning Rotobahn readers know of my love for Mr. Burton, but Trey is not the lock he’s being portrayed as. I love his all around game and his contract says he’s going to be featured this year to some extent. The risks are that there are a lot of other mouths to feed, that he is playing in a new offense and that Adam Shaheen exists. While I think he rises above all three, and while I think Burton has league winning potential if you get him late enough, I’d be careful about reaching for him. There are a lot of ways to win the tight end position this year or to at least keep pace with your peers.

72

27

Lewis, Dion

RB

TEN

8

I’m a big fan of Dion as many of you know, but I am leaning to the younger bigger half of the Titans’ RB pairing.

73

3

Watson, Deshaun

QB

HOU

10

It’s the weapons. If Watson had typical skill talent surrounding him, I’d be fading aggressively because I’m somewhat concerned that his ACL recovery could affect his foot-point totals. But, he DOES have the weapons. DeAndre Hopkins is an always open guy and one of Watson’s strengths is trusting his receivers. Then you have Will Fuller, who gets open almost at will when fully healthy. These two players open up all kinds of options in terms of route design. They will be able to take advantage with guys like Keke Coutee or even Braxton Miller—if they are smart. This team is uniquely able to produce explosion plays and Watson will have his hand in most of them from a fantasy standpoint. If Watson slips a bit in my drafts, I will consider going after him, but not before round six.

74

4

Newton, Cam

QB

CAR

4

Cam has better weapons right now than he’s had in a long while. He’s also healthy as we head into the season, which is a nice change. His shoulder soreness seems to be in the rear view mirror. His new OC, Norv Turner, is a tough factor to figure, but here’s the thing…. He’s replacing David Shula. As Howard Jones used to say, things can only get better.

75

37

Cobb, Randall

WR

GB

7

A potential steal if his ADP continues to be depressed.

76

5

Brady, Tom

QB

NE

11

I’ll probably hear about this ranking from some of my NE contingent, and hey, feel free to take him in tier one, but I’m not ignoring Brady’s age or how slow he looks these days. Can he still get it done? Sure, especially with the Patriots schedule, but I have some mild concerns that the Pats could do some of what the Saints did last season. NE no longer has a guy like Garoppolo in the wings. They need to get another two seasons out of Brady, and that could mean doing more to protect him. I certainly don’t see them going more pass heavy, and letting pass rushers pin their ears back. Could letting Dion go and replacing him with a bigger studier runner be a bit of a tell? Maybe. Don’t get me wrong, I think NE wins the east again—going away. They’ll probably be the number one seed in the AFC. I just think they may change things up a bit and go a bit more old school. And, again, at some point, Brady will just get old. No one is immune. It’s coming. Enjoy the Hall of Famer while he lasts, but as Butch told Sundance, “every day you get older, now that’s a law!”

77

28

Williams, Jamaal

RB

GB

7

I’m not targeting Williams because I feel like he’s the worst value in the GB backfield—meaning he costs the most. I also feel like there’s a good chance that he could be the odd man out if both Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones stay healthy. All that said, any of these three backs can be fantasy assets if they get the volume.

78

29

Barber, Peyton

RB

TB

5

I’m a big fan of Barber. One of the more underrated talents around, but they drafted Ronald Jones high enough where caution is recommended with Barber. Even if your a non-believer when it comes to Jones, don’t reach for Barber too much. My feel is that he’ll need a Jones injury to pay off large. Of course, Jones is smallish, a rookie and he had a hammy at the combine. Barber makes a very nice deep flier.

79

6

Luck, Andrew

QB

IND

9

I took a bit of a bath on Luck last year, but I’m not letting recency bias hold me back on him in 2018. He’s got a solid cast around him and maybe the best OL he’s ever had to play behind—meaning it’s almost average. Hey, you have to start somewhere. Hilton and Jack Doyle give him some trustworthy familiarity and I like the addition of Ryan Grant quite a bit. Eric Ebron is another potent weapon if they can fit him in. Rookie RB Nyheim Hines is another home run hitter who can keep defenses honest when they try to lean on Hilton. Luck can be a big time orchestrator and I REALLY like the hiring of Frank Reich, who will be Luck’s best coach since Bruce Arians left.

80

7

Brees, Drew

QB

NO

6

I think the Saints are onto something with last year’s paradigm of running a bit more like they did back in their championship days.

81

30

Johnson, Kerryon

RB

DET

6

This is a tough one because I like all of the Detroit RBs in one way or another. The bottom like is that the depth is a problem for all of these guys. Blount could be a TD vulture and Riddick/Abdullah are fantastic in passing situations. Johnson has three down ability and has the look of a back who can handle volume, but there’s so much that could go wrong if you are hoping for solid RB2 production in 2018. He COULD be great, but he’d have to force a lot of talent off the field. That’s a much more likely scenario next year with Blount getting older and Abdullah finding a new home as a free agent.

82

31

Mack, Marlon

RB

IND

9

He’s a potential home run ball. There’s no doubt that Mack can be exciting and if the Colts offense returns to form with Andrew Luck under center, there could be more running room for Mack this year. Still, there are concerns. Mack only played 310 snaps last season. He did have a shoulder injury early on which cost him some time, but based on how much he was playing, that only cost him about 30-40 total snaps. Robert Turbin was lost early on so Mack had an open lane for playing time on a team with zero playoff hopes. Still, he was not given much time. It’s a potential tell. He’s also nursing a hamstriing injury that could keep him off the field for the preseason—helping the rookies to get more snaps with the first team. ***UPDATE*** It appears that teh hammy will keep Mack out Week 1, but it’s not likely that this is a long term issue. He’s already had plentyof time to heal. If anything, Mack’s value has gone up in his absence, as no other back stepped up to fill the void in any meaningful way. I’m not downgrading him, but be aware of the Week 1 issue.

83

8

Doyle, Jack

TE

IND

9

Luck is back and so is Doyle’s fantasy appeal, especially in PPR leagues. Not to say that Doyle was bad last year. 80 catches is nothing to sneeze at, but I think he can get back to being a more dangerous weapon as he was in 2016. I think this is a guy who can set career highs for yardage and touchdowns in 2018.

84

9

Rudolph, Kyle

TE

MIN

10

Rudolph is guaranteed to be a good football player, but his fantasy appeal is tougher to pin down. He blocks well and could be used often in pass pro thus limiting the number of routes and targets he receives. If he gets the volume, you can lock in the subsequent production, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in Minny and most of them don’t have strong alt applications as Rudolph does. In short, Mike Zimmer gives no fucks about your fantasy team. Draft Rudolph as a light TE1 and pay accordingly. You could get lucky and he has a big year in the red zone, but significant target volume feels like a long shot. The Vikings do not protect well enough to send the tight out in the pattern on a regular basis. Even with that, he’s too good to be less than a TE1 in all formats.

85

38

Crabtree, Michael

WR

BAL

10

Crabtree has never played with a great NFL quarterback, and that doesn;t change this year, but the good news is that Flacco doesn’t represent a downgrade either. Crabtree should be his usual self—he’s worthy of a selection as your WR3 in 12-team leagues. Just don’t reach to get him. There are plenty of other value props in the same genral area.

86

32

Hyde, Carlos

RB

CLE

11

Still a back I like, but he needs to find a good home. Cleveland looks like a 1-year pit stop and he’s got two really good runners to compete with in Duke Johnson and Nick “I think it moved” Chubb. It feels like a team that will have three fantasy RB3s.

87

33

Crowell, Isaiah

RB

NYJ

11

I’m doing a full re-write on Crowell’s blurb because things have changed a bit in Jetsland. First off, Elijah McGuire has a broken foot. That should mean more snaps for Crowell and Powell. Second, the Jets QBs looked so good in the opener, that I am more hopeful for the Jets offense despite the weak OL. Third, Crowell looked good catching the ball in preseason Week 1. The Jets sure look like they want to use him more that way. I’m keeping an open mind here. Crowell could be a better value in PPR and .5 PPR than I initially gave him credit for. He looks lighter than he did in Cleveland. That would be a very good sign. The best Crowell I have ever seen was when he was lightest and that was back in his freshman season at Georgia, before he transferred.

88

34

Penny, Rashaad

RB

SEA

7

Penny is the guy in Seattle … unless he blows it. There’s no doubt that he’s in the driver’s seat, but it’s probably a good idea to remember recent history and how schizophrenic Pete Carroll has been with his running backs. In short, what this guy says means close to nothing. Penny’s at the top right now, but Carroll has professed his love for every other back on the roster at one time or another. If Penny is getting blown up in pass pro, which is likely, they have other backs who can get that job done. That could cost the rookie snaps, especially early on. This is a player/situation to watch closely in August. Penny has a lot of juju, but he’s raw in terms of doing the little things.

89

35

Cohen, Tarik

RB

CHI

5

He’s the real deal—a modern day Warrick Dunn with emphasis on modern. I expect Cohen to catch more passes while receiving fewer carries. In the end, look for roughly 130 carries and 70 receptions. That puts Cohen in the RB2 discussion in 12-team PPR leagues.

90

36

Jones, Aaron

RB

GB

7

Jones, by my eyes, is the one back who could really take over the Packer’s backfield, but he’s got a few concerns. First off, the competition is legit. Both Ty Montgomery and Jamaal Williams have game. Second, Jones is suspended for the first two games of the year. That means that both Williams and Montgomery will have multiple chances to steal this gig or at least slow Jones’ roll upon his return. I’m looking to draft Jones, but I want him to fall to me. I’m not going to reach for him. Round eight or later.

91

37

Carson, Chris

RB

SEA

7

The opposite of Penny. Carson is a worker—a grinder, but he has some play-making ability too. He’s running with the starters now and with Penny’s broken finger, he should be the Week 1 starter. I do not buy into Carson as a long term threat to Penny or even a healthy Prosise, but they like him, he’s a solid back, and he’s currently in the driver’s seat.

92

10

Njoku, David

TE

CLE

11

At some point this player takes the leap and he’s a star when it happens. Is that going to happen in 2018? It’s going to have a lot to do with the QB play and maybe Josh Gordon’s availability. If Gordon flames out, that really opens the door for Njoku because they will need his physical freak downfield presence. Obviously, he’ll give them that either way, but the targets and deeper routes will be plentiful if Gordon’s out. For both Flash and Njoku to thrive, they need good QB play, not just improved QB play. They need to extend a lot of drives that died in 2017 if they are going to create a target pie big enough to feed Jarvis Landry, Gordon and Njoku. So, to me, where you are willing to draft him relates to what you think of Tyrod Taylor and Baker Mayfield. For my money, Mayfield is the guy to unlock this offense. Taylor is closer to a 50/50 proposition. Efficient distribution may not be his game, but to be fair, he’ll have more open guys in Cleveland than he did in Buffalo. Right now, I see him going in the 11th or 12th round, but his two score game in preseason Week 1 will have him moving up boards. He’s probably not going to be a steal anymore.

93

11

Walker, Delanie

TE

TEN

8

Walker is a declining player by the looks of it, but he should have another solid season left in his tank before he yields to the younger and more dynamic Jonnu Smith. I’m not paying much for him, but he should return low-end TE1 stats.

94

12

Howard, O.J.

TE

TB

5

Howard is a future star, but he’s still climbing the fantasy ranks. I’m fine with him as my TE1 as long as I am not overpaying. I’ll take him in the 11-12 round range when he’s available. I see plenty of big weeks but also a fair amount of 3 for 37 weeks as well. There is a lot of skill talent to deal with in Tampa, and they should be able to get Howard into space a fair amount. Once he’s there, good luck, because he can fly and is tough to bring down. Howard scored once in his first five NFL Games. He scored five times over the next nine. I think we get the second half guy going forward.

95

39

Stills, Kenny

WR

MIA

11

With Jarvis Landry gone and with DeVante Parker struggling, the door is wide open for Stills to have a career year. Always a Rotobahn fave, Still has quietly played very good football as a Dolphin. He can make plays at all levels of the field, He can grind and he can make big plays downfield. He may finally get the kind of target volume required to be a weekly fantasy starter. I could see him making a run at 120 this year, which would be a career high.

96

8

Cousins, Kirk

QB

MIN

10

Long time Rotobahn readers know we’ve been fans of Cousins since his days at Michigan State. He’s a very fundamentally sound passer. He’ll make some bad reads but he throws the ball beautifully and he’s a great fit for the receivers in Minnesota. He’s a safe play without a monster ceiling because I can’t see Mike Zimmer ever having a 40 TD QB.

97

38

Chubb, Nick

RB

CLE

11

Offer me Chubb or Hyde and I am taking Chubb every time, but with Duke Johnson AND Hyde around, this is one crowded backfield. Chubb’s going to be a beast, but when the number of the beast is going to be called is anybody’s guess.

98

9

Garoppolo, Jimmy

QB

SF

11

Rotobahn readers know how much I like Jimmy, and I really like what they’ve done with their surrounding talent in San Francisco. Garoppolo should be a stable fantasy starter in 2018. I like the 49ers’ schedule overall and I really like the playoff matchups. Another decided plus is that they face the Rams on the road in Week 17—after smart leagues play their final game.

99

39

Peterson, Adrian

RB

WAS

4

He could be a real value but he’s not very diverse at this point in his career and he’s always been mediocre in the pass game. That’s a significant issue in this offense. He’s going to have Isaiah Crowell value if he is in shape and ready to go. I may bump him up next week if all signs are positive.

100

40

Golladay, Kenny

WR

DET

6

He’s a guy I am targeting once I have a team built. Golladay is a guy who could start atringing touchdowns together. The Lions have no alpha tight end so Golladay could be the big weapon once the Lions get in tight. He also has the talent to carve out a role as a high volume 3rd receiver, behind Marvin Jones and Golden Tate.

101

13

Reed, Jordan

TE

WAS

4

Reed is a fascinating fantasy asset from an academic standpoint. Obviously, he’s a monster when he’s got his game going. Reed has it all. He can post high catch games, post plenty of yardage and he can score touchdowns. What he cannot seem to do is stay healthy. Reed played a career high 14 games in 2015. That number dropped to 12 in 2016 and all the way down to 6 last season. It’s an ugly trend. So what do we do? To me, in leagues with small rosters, he’s a non-starter. Having a TE eating a roster spot in a small league is hugely limiting, but if you play in a big league with long benches, he’s certainly worth a look if you need some upside at the position. I see him going in the round 9-10 area and that’s a bit rich for me. ***UPDATE*** Reed is healthy heading into Week 1, so I am bumping him up just a tad. Massive upside here, obviously, but so many missed games and so many different injuries.

102

41

Anderson, Robby

WR

NYJ

11

He may miss a game or two for NFL disciplinary reasons, but I fully expect him to be the Jets best receivers when he is on the field. He has some unexplored ceiling IF he can keep his head on straight, which is far from a guaranty.

103

42

Bryant, Dez

WR

FA

He’s a floater right now, until we know where he is. He could move up quite a bit with a friendly locale.

104

10

Wentz, Carson

QB

PHI

9

There’s some risk because he suffered his ACL late in the season. That said, he’s a stud and he’s got great talent around him plus a great scheme/coach. I’ll gladly take Wentz if he falls to me. One concern for redrafters is his playoff schedule. He’s at Rams Week 15 and hosting the Texans Week 16. Could be a good trade candidate if he falls to you and gets off to a hot start. **UPDATE*** Wentz will miss Week 1, but is likely to return early in the season. I think he has a good shot at Week 2 or 3.

105

11

Roethlisberger, Ben

QB

PIT

7

They won’t say scheme change in Pitt, but when you lose Todd Haley, you lose a guy whose route design was key to the fantasy success of many a Steeler. Now, they may win more games without him, but there’s a chance that we’ll see less in terms of offensive explosions. Big Ben is also getting on in years and is clearly not what he was in terms of quick-twitch athleticism. Plenty of upside here, but more to be concerned with than in recent years. I’m not fading Ben, but I’m not really targeting him either.

106

43

Moore, D.J.

WR

CAR

4

He looks like he’s going to be a big part of the Panther’s offense. I’m leaning towards him over Funchess and when you look at how much cheaper he is, it’s a very easy decision. Moore can be a fit for Cam Newton but also fit with how new OC Norv Turner likes to play. He tracks the deep ball beautifully.

107

14

Kittle, George

TE

SF

11

Kittle is a bit like Burton in that I think he’s going to have a big year, but there’s also a leap of faith involved. The kind of leap you want to be careful not to overpay for. I’m fading him just a smidge after his shoulder injury.

108

44

Funchess, Devin

WR

CAR

4

I’m just not feeling the love. Some like, sure, but a huge breakout, while possible, seems unlikely with Mccaffrey and DJ Moore in the fold as emerging stars and target hogs.

109

40

Chris Warren

RB

OAK

7

***UPDATE*** Warren had knee surgery and is on IR. I love his talent and size, but he’ll be out for a while. No redraft value at this time.

110

45

Shepard, Sterling

WR

NYG

9

He’ll be solid and a big asset to the Giants, but he’s a WR3 or flex option with so much high-end skill talent around him.

111

41

Breida, Matt

RB

SF

11

His performance as a rookie doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s clearly a favorite of the coaching staff and is currently in the two slot on the 49ers’ depth chart. Breida is a good natural runner whose abilities mesh well with Shanahan’s scheme. He’s not a side to side runner. He’s decisive. The biggest concern for Breida is his lack of size. **UPDATE** Breida is now in a legit competition with Alf Morris for snaps and caaries in the wake of McKinnon’s season-ending knee injury.

112

42

Alfred Morris

RB

SF

11

**UPDATE** Morris is now in a competition for snaps and carries with Matt Brieda in the wake of McKinnon’s season-ending knee injury. Morris projects to have early down and perhaps most of the goal line duties. He’s come out of nowhere to perhaps lead this backfield, but things can change fast so be careful not to invest too much in PPR leagues. There’s no doubt that he can have some success due to his history and experience in Shanahan’s scheme.

113

12

Mahomes, Patrick

QB

KC

12

A strong-armed gunslinger with phenomenal weapons playing for a team that should give up plenty of points. Where do I sign? Mahomes may not be a league winner, but I can draft him as a QB2. That’s comforting if none of the guys I want fall to me.

114

46

Brown, John

WR

BAL

10

He has a shot at a big year, but can he stay healthy? It’s been a bugaboo for him and we won’t really know where he’s at until the bullets start lying for real. I’m cautiously optimistic.

115

43

Clement, Corey

RB

PHI

9

He was better than I anticipated last year. I underestimated this kid and he looks like a solid handcuff for Ajayi owners in deeper formats where handcuffing makes sense. Clement could also have some stand-alone value because this is such an explosive offense and they tend to feature multiple backs near the stripe.

116

13

Goff, Jared

QB

LAR

12

He’s a solid option who can start for you on most weeks. Finished as QB12 last year and I expect him to be in the 10-16 range this season.

117

47

Lockett, Tyler

WR

SEA

7

He’s incredibly cheap though he will probably rise a bit as folks begin to do their fantasy math. Folks will also start to go away from Doug Baldwin with news of his knee situation. Baldwin is most likely going to be fine, but Lockett is a threat to breakout either way. He’s finally all the way back from the broken leg he suffered at the end of 2016. While he was healthy enough to play last season, he was not his usual self—his speed clearly less than normal. Lockett should be the second most targeted receiver on a team that will play from behind a lot more than they normally do. He has a fine quarterback in Russell Wilson. His health is trending up. Still, you can draft him as your WR5 and end up making a big profit. He has top 30 upside in PPR scoring

118

48

Miller, Anthony

WR

CHI

5

I wish I could see teh future in terms of what the Bears’ coaches are going to do with this offense. So many new toys—good ones, and how they are used will be a huge factor in terms of which bears make a big fantasy impact. Miller’s ability to win inside and outside should make him a weekly factor, but target volume is still a big unknown. I’m ranking him this high because I think he has a high ceiling in PPR leagues. This guy does some Antonio Brown-type things. Of coursem AB too a year or two to show just how good he was and Miller could have a curve too. Can’t wait to see this guy play. While my ranking is high, you must follow Miller’s ADP, because he can be had much later right now. All of my shares were taken after the 12th round. Love it.

119

14

Mariota, Marcus

QB

TEN

8

Mariota is a guy I really like in best ball leagues, because I get to take advantage of his spike weeks without worrying much about game scripts and such. He’s also a guy I am willing to roll with in seasonal formats as long as the value is right.

120

15

Stafford, Matthew

QB

DET

6

So solid. Better for real football than fantasy to some extent but still a very trustworthy commodity. Should end up somewhere between QB7-14. Mild concerns about how Matt Patricia will change things. Not so much because I think he will, but you have to respect all unknowns and Patricia is a huge unknown in my view. Could be another Mangini for all we know.

121

44

Thompson, Chris

RB

WAS

4

His role should be a bit smaller with Guice in town, but Thompson can still make a positive impact in deeper PPR leagues. The loss of Guice should help him, but word is that he’s still a ways away from being 100 percent.

122

15

Seferian-Jenkins, Austin

TE

JAX

9

ASJ was probably a bit better last year than his Jets stats indicate and I’m not just talking about the touchdowns that he dropped or that the replay officials took away. He was easy for defenses to key on because the Jets had so little going offensively. While he won’t be featured a whole lot in Jacksonville, he will have a much easier time getting free and finding open space. He’ll also get a whole lot more snaps near the goal line. There’s definitely TE1 potential here. He could score ten times if he continues to get better as he did during his stay as a Jet.

123

45

Jones, Ronald

RB

TB

5

I’m not the kind of guy who buys lottery tickets in real life, but in fantasy football, I will indulge at times. Jones gets some grief for not doing the little things well, but when I watch his game film, I see a player who can contribute right away—perhaps like Alvin Kamara did in 2017.

124

46

Conner, James

RB

PIT

7

The handcuff for Bell and that’s big right now—with Bell not in camp.

125

47

Johnson, Duke

RB

CLE

11

He’s going to be a complementary piece paired with a big back. He’ll have some PPR appeal, but the acquisition of Jarvis Landry puts the kibosh on Duke’s slot activities. He’s got the talent to be a lead dog, but I just don’t see enough oxygen for him in Cleveland right now.

126

48

Anderson, C.J.

RB

CAR

4

CJ’s a polarizing player. I’m between the extremes on him. He’s a good solid back who can play on all downs. He’s a solid complement to McCaffrey, but that’s what he is. He’s not taking this gig or playing a ton of snaps. He’s a RB3 for fantasy purposes unless McCaffrey gets hurt.

127

16

Rivers, Philip

QB

LAC

8

Losing Hunter Henry hurts a bit but he has so many other weapons that he should be ok. Solid but not likely to be spectacular because they have a defense now. I could see them going the way of the Saints to some extent.

128

17

Ryan, Matt

QB

ATL

8

I expect better things from Ryan this year—with a solid array of skill talent and a running game featuring backs who can help to pad his passing numbers. That’s huge because Ryan will give NOTHING above what he can do with his arm. This guy has no rushing scores over the last five seasons.

129

49

Ridley, Calvin

WR

ATL

8

He should see a steady strema of number two corners because of Julio Jones and since Jones doesn’t dominate red zone targets (why, we do not know), there should be some TD opportunity as well.

130

50

Garcon, Pierre

WR

SF

11

I like him as a player, but he’s getting older and his physical style of play won’t help him stay healthy. He’s also got a lot of talented young receivers to hold off in terms of targets and snaps. I anticipate Garcon playing a lot, but a youngster like Dante Pettis taking away playing time is not at all out of the question.

131

49

Martin, Doug

RB

OAK

7

He’s a lottery ticket who could certainly pay off, but Oakland has a lot of backs including Marshawn, so don’t put too many chips in Martin’s basket.

132

50

Powell, Bilal

RB

NYJ

11

Once again, the Jets seem disinclined to play their best running back. And, once again, Powell will probably force his way into the mix. This backfield feels like a three-headed mess that’s best avoided.

133

51

Murray, Latavius

RB

MIN

10

He is a very good handcuff option, because this offense will move the ball. If Cook goes down again, the goal line chances will be plentiful for Murray.

134

52

Montgomery, Ty

RB

GB

7

He’s definitely a good sleeper in PPR formats. The GB backs are tough because they are all good. Heavy volume seems unlikely for any of the three primary guys. If injuries happen, then one or two of them can move up the ranks fast.

135

53

Booker, Devontae

RB

DEN

10

Royce Freeman looked damn good in his brief stint in preseason Week 1, but Booker’s role should be pretty significant for a while if not all season.

136

51

Richardson, Paul

WR

WAS

4

He should be a big positive factor for Washington though I am not loving the fit with Alex Smith. He had more upside working with Russell Wilson.

137

18

Trubisky, Mitchell

QB

CHI

5

If you read my stuff last year, you know I like Trubisky, but too many people are predicting a full blown breakout. I see a big step forward, but with some fits and starts.

138

52

Allison, Geronimo

WR

GB

7

Allison is a player I’m targeting as a WR5 or so. He’s exactly what I want as a reserve because he has the upside to become a weekly starter. He’s got a solid rapport with Aaron Rodgers and his size will keep him involved near the end zone. This is the kind of player who could erupt if he comes out on top of the camp battle for the third receiver gig. It’s also worth noting that both Randall Cobb and Devante Adams have injury concerns. Just one injury could make Geronimo one of Rodgers’ primary weapons. Unless one of the younger receivers jumps him on the depth chart in the next few weeks, this is a player who must be taken in all drafts.

139

19

Dalton, Andy

QB

CIN

9

He’s a value and I am more than willing to start my season with him as my co-QB1 with another inexpensive option like Blake Bortles, whose first half schedule fits will with Dalton’s. Why? Because he has a lot to work with—starting with AJ Green, yes, but there’s plenty more. Perhaps most important if the improvement at LT, which was a huge problem last year. The line is still a work in progress, but at least it’s not going to be a land rush like it was in 2017. Dalton gets the ball out well and has plenty of targets who can uncover in a hurry. Look for big leas from John Ross and perhaps Tyler Boyd as well.

140

53

Benjamin, Kelvin

WR

BUF

11

Can he stay healthy? If he can, you could be looking at a valuable fantasy option. Buffalo will be playing from behind a lot and the football will be in the air a lot. If LeSean McCoy ends up suspended, as he probably ought to, then Buffalo may have no choice but to become a throw-first offense. Benjamin is a serious sleeper for 10 scores. Of course, he could also have troubel staying healthy, so don’t reach.

141

54

Wilkins, Jordan

RB

IND

9

With Hines’ struggles, I am bumping Wilkins up a bit. If he looks good in Week 3 preseason, he could move up more.

142

55

White, James

RB

NE

11

He’s a nice best ball option and he’ll play his usual role, but knowing when to start him can be a tricky proposition.

143

54

Matthews, Rishard

WR

TEN

8

Hasn’t practiced yet and is falling behind the younger players, but he could get back on top if he gets healthy.

144

56

Yeldon, T.J.

RB

JAX

9

He’s a good back stuck behind a batter one. Yeldon will probably have a bigger role next year as he is a free agent, but fr now, he’s the best handcuff option for Fournette owners. The thing is, he will probably be in some type of time share with Corey Grant in that scenario, so don’t sell out to get him. Just let one of them fall to you—if you want to handcuff that is.

145

55

Ross, John

WR

CIN

9

It appears that he’s turning the corner with his health and he’s had a solid camp based on reports. He certainly looked like he had his speed in preseason Week 1. Ross is the kind of receiver I want to target once I have my core in place. He has the talent to force his way into my lineup. As I said last year, think Will Fuller, with better hands. He just needs to get settled in.

146

56

Enunwa, Quincy

WR

NYJ

11

Enunwa is about to play his first season in college or pro, with solid quarterback play. He’s endured Nebraska’s QBs and then the Jets, so he’s really been through the ringer. This year, he’ll be with Sam Darnold, Josh McCown or Teddy Bridgewater. All of them offer a new level of competency for Enunwa. In return, Enunwa, assuming he stays healthy, will provide a sturdy slot presence with big play capability due to his to tackle-breaking skills and his long speed. Enunwa is also a good red zone target. He’s an underrated player right now in fantasy.

147

57

Riddick, Theo

RB

DET

6

I’m a bit skeptical about Riddisk’s role. I think he’ll still be the dedicated 2-minute guy, but it’s a deeper backfield now and both Johnson and Abdullah could cut into his role.

148

16

Ebron, Eric

TE

IND

9

Can he play enough snaps? If he can, I’m interested. I really like the move by the Colts because Ebron has a lot of talent and we’ve seen tight ends develop late many times. He could develop into a chess piece for Luck. Not a bad deep flier in tight end premium leagues or really deep leagues.

149

17

Hooper, Austin

TE

ATL

8

Love him as a late round sleeper because he’s a good fundamental player who has some offensive upside. He’s on a traditional TE curve—getting better each year. He’ll be a TE1 eventually and it could happen this year. He’s underrated.

150

18

Eifert, Tyler

TE

CIN

9

I’m not playing the Eifert game. He had a 52 catch season once and he tacked on 13 scores which is the thing fantasy GMs just can’t forget. I think they should. He’s just never done anything outside of that one season. He’s absolutely talented, but he has to show me at this point. No way am I paying his round 12 price. He just doesn’t stay healthy and he’s starting camp on the PUP list. This guy makes Jordan Reed look like an Iron Man. Hard pass for me.

151

19

Watson, Benjamin

TE

NO

6

Watson’s had one strange career. He was a disappointment for so long but always flashed when healthy. The talent is still there and he’s had two of his best seasons late in his career. Now he returns to Brees and Payton, but he’s 37, and the age thing is going to get him at some point soon. I think he’s probably got one more year left in him, and he is looking like a solid value right now. Let him fall to you late.

152

20

Clay, Charles

TE

BUF

11

I don’t see much ceiling, but Clay has a floor you can count on when he’s healthy. Buffalo should be a target rich environment for him this season. He’s a safe play if you are in need.

153

21

Brate, Cameron

TE

TB

5

Brate is a very good player, but he’s pinched a bit by the great players around him. He’s best used as a detached TE or “big slot”, but this is a team with a bunch of slat-capable guys and they have a dedicated stud TE in OJ Howard. Brate should be a steady asset and he should score some touchdowns, but there’s some risk of a reduced role and or losing some of his targets in the red area.

154

20

Smith, Alex

QB

WAS

4

He’s a savvy veteran orchestrator who has improved a lot over the second half of his career, but I am concerned that his new environment is a step down from Andy Reid’s scheme. And, while the skill talent is certainly sufficient, there are no Kelces or Tyreeks in Washington. Maybe Jordan Reed stays healthy, but it’s a big maybe. I love Paul Richardson as you probably know, but he’s not as dynamic as Hill. It’s also worth noting that 2017 was a career year for Smith. Regression is possible. Still, he’s a stable commodity you can start if need be. He’s just not a guy I’m targeting. Rather let somebody else reach for him. His closing schedule is not friendly. The Jaguars on Week 15 is particularly harsh.

155

57

Godwin, Chris

WR

TB

5

I am a big fan and I really don’t see how they can keep this guy off the field. That said, their stated plan is to have him competing outside with Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson. If they are true to their word, that will mean depressed opportunity for Godwin in 2018. My gut says that they are lying, and that both Evans and Godwin will get slot reps—forcing Adam Humphries to the bench much of the time. Still, you can’t depend on that, so avoid reaching for Godwin. He’s a nice upside value pick in full PPR. Approach him that way.

156

21

Winston, Jameis

QB

TB

5

He’s a target for me because I don’t much care about the missed games. Most are bad matchups anyway. I’ll gladly get a cheap stop gap guy to get me through the first three games.

157

22

Manning, Eli

QB

NYG

9

The early season schedule is not friendly, but Eli is being undersold my a lot of analysts—not so much because he’s still a great player, but because he’s in such a great situation. Only one things has to happen for Manning to be very good. The Giants need to get the OL play up a notch. If doesn’t have to be good, it just has to hold up well enough for manning to be a “distributor.” They can do a lt of damage without taking a lot of deep drops. If Manning can just get the football into his playmaker’s hands, he can end up with big stats. This team has three guys who are incredibly hard to defend in OBJ, Engram and Saquon Barkley. Each player presents a unique challenge for a defense but here’s a huge key that you don’t hear enough about. All three of these guys can uncover quickly. Sterling Shepard, while not as dynamic, adds a strong fourth option. So tune out all the noise with Manning, because it’s not really about him. If the play-calling and scheme is competent and the OL plays just a bit better, this thing is going to work. The raw stats will be there even if the wins are not.

158

1

Jaguars

DEF

JAX

9

159

23

Prescott, Dak

QB

DAL

8

It’s not pretty in Dallas. They lost Dez Bryant and have replaced him with reclamation projects and second tier rookies. Granted, I do like Michael Gallup and Allan Hurns has some deep ball talent, but there’s a hole at tight end that was largely unadressed unlike you really like Dalton Schulz or Blake Jarwin.

160

24

Carr, Derek

QB

OAK

7

He’s a strong rebound candidate with a better head coach in charge but with some limitations. Gruden’s not going to have them throwing the ball all over the place. Carr looks like a soldi QB2 to me.

161

2

Vikings

DEF

MIN

10

162

58

Parker, DeVante

WR

MIA

11

He’s the kind of player I like to target if he falls well below his ADP, because he has a load of talent. Just be careful about overpaying, because he hasn’t really lived up to his ability AND he’s had a lot of injuries, albeit, not serious ones.

163

59

Nelson, Jordy

WR

OAK

7

He’s about precision routes and well timed breaks and then running after the catch. Aaron Rodgers was uniquely good at helping Nelson unlock that trifecta in full. Derek Carr isn’t bad, but he’s a long way from Aaron Rodgers. I’m letting other folks take this gamble.

164

3

Rams

DEF

LAR

12

165

1

Stephen Gostkowski

PK

NE

11

166

58

Gore, Frank

RB

MIA

11

He’ll be solid, but I think this is the Kenyan Drake show in 2018.

167

59

Blount, LeGarrette

RB

DET

6

Hard to see him playing a major role in such a crowded backfield. That said, some touchdowns are definitely possible.

168

60

Allen, Javorius

RB

BAL

10

Allen is a pain in your fantasy posterior. He never gets enough but he manages to vulture enough stats to annoy you if you own one of the other Raven backs. He’s a deep league option right now, and not an exciting one.

169

4

Eagles

DEF

PHI

9

170

60

Westbrook, Dede

WR

JAX

9

I’m a big fan and Westbrook is one of my late targets in full PPR leagues. The reason to wait on him is because of the depth in Jacksonville. They have at least five guys with a legit shot at breaking into the WR rotation, so ALL of the Jags’ receivers are slipping. No reason to draft them ealry. Let them fall to you.

171

61

Cole, Keelan

WR

JAX

9

A deep depth chart complicates things for his FF value, but I like him. ***UPDATE*** By my math, Cole is the big bump up in the wake of Lee’s season-ending knee injury.

172

62

Williams, Mike

WR

LAC

8

While I may not be his biggest fan, Williams is exactly the kind of receiver I want to roster in the second half of drafts. If his back is totally healthy, he could be a big breakout guy. Think about all the targets vacated by Hunter Henry. There’s opportunity here, and he’s got a QB in Phillip Rivers, who can make the throws. If Williams shows off the kind of ball skills he did at Clemson and does in consistently, Rivers will make the kind of “trust throws” that Williams needs to be successful. Soldi potential here. Just don’t reach on a hunch.

173

63

Patterson, Cordarrelle

WR

NE

11

Is he happening? I think he might be. If Dez Bryant or a trade doesn’t happen soon, C-Patt’s climb up my board will continue. People are grossly underestimating what he can do in the right situation—and he may have finally found it.

174

64

Washington, James

WR

PIT

7

Love this kid but his ceiling is a tad capped with AB & JuJu ahead of him.

175

65

Wallace, Mike

WR

PHI

9

I like the way he fits with them—a lot. I’m not sure just how much Wallace has left in the tank, but I like him as a late rounder with upside to maybe get into my weekly lineup in deeper leagues. With Alshon hurting a bit and potentially starting on the PUP, Wallace could be a big factor early on.

176

66

Grant, Ryan

WR

IND

9

Serious sleeper. Grant has been a guy I’ve liked over the years and he’s about to get a shot at serious playing time with a top flight QB. He won’t be the lead guy, but he could evolve into the second or third option in the Colts’ passing game. He’s a route technician with good hands. He could end up being a legit WR3 in PPR leagues.

177

61

Bernard, Giovani

RB

CIN

9

Some very smart analysts think he’s a value. He definitely has a chance, because he’s a good player, but I’m not sure the payoff is likely.

178

5

Chargers

DEF

LAC

8

179

25

Bortles, Blake

QB

JAX

9

He may not be very good but his team is and so is his schedule. It may not be sexy or fun to roster him, but Bortles will keep you afloat while you wait for a good trade opportunity. I like the acquisition os Austin Seferian-Jenkins and he’s got a deep group of talented receivers. He’s also got explosive RBs to throw to and a good offensive line.

180

26

Darnold, Sam

QB

NYJ

11

He looked damn good in his first stint in preseason Week 1. It’s starting to look like he may win the job outright and with the Jets schedule, that makes him a potential fantasy option.

181

22

Seals-Jones, Ricky

TE

ARI

9

He’s a projection but there’s certainly something to get excited about here. My big concern with all Cardinals playesr is that Arians is gone, and it’s not as easy to extrapolate stats with the new scheme being a bit of an unknown.

182

23

Cook, Jared

TE

OAK

7

It’s his job, so Cook is a potential solution if you are in dire straits at the end of a draft. Not my favorite option, but a viable one. Only posting one score with Aaron Rodgers is something I’m having trouble forgetting.

183

24

McDonald, Vance

TE

PIT

7

He has a foot injury though there doesn’t seem to be any concern about his Week 1 availability. If he takes the Pitt job cleanly, he could be a breakout player for fantasy purposes. He’s a big play guy and there’s just to much skill talent around McDonald for defenses to key on him. Long catch and runs are imminent—assuming health and assuming he wins teh gig. He’s a player to watch in August.

184

2

Justin Tucker

PK

BAL

10

185

3

Greg Zuerlein

PK

LAR

12

186

67

Doctson, Josh

WR

WAS

4

He’s worth something because he’s a good player, but I do not like the way his skillset meshes with Alex Smith. More to the point, Doctson’s money routes are not the ones Alex Smith throws well. I like Crowder and Richardson more between the 20s in this offense.

187

27

Keenum, Case

QB

DEN

10

Keenum is the last guy I can draft and depend on early in the season. He buys you time with good matchups in Weeks 1 & 2 and only one tough matchup in his first five games. He’s also got sweet playoff matchups. Keenum makes a nice placeholder QB1 to start and then a very nice QB2 once you’ve upgraded. He’s a locked in capable starter with some explosive receivers.

188

6

Saints

DEF

NO

6

189

7

Ravens

DEF

BAL

10

190

68

Jackson, DeSean

WR

TB

5

He’s another solid upside play, but I am being careful not to overspend, because Tampa is loaded with receivers—including two very good tight ends. Ryan Fitzpatrick starting the first three games is another issue. D-Jax will have some very good weeks, but I doubt he’s a consistent threat who you feel good about putting in your lineup. Better to trade for him after a slow start than to bank on him having a good one.

191

62

Grant, Corey

RB

JAX

9

I love Grant, and I think he’ll continue to gain momentum, but his ceiling is obviously capped as long as Fournette is healthy.

192

63

Smith, Rod

RB

DAL

8

My current bet to be the most valuable Cowboys back behind Elliott in 2018, but this bears watching because rookie Bo Scarbrough could create a camp battle with strong play.

193

64

Gillislee, Mike

RB

NO

6

He’ll have a role until Ingram gets back, so he could be flexworthy until Week 5.

194

65

Perine, Samaje

RB

WAS

4

He gets a big bump on my board with Guice going down. Rob Klley is a concern and so is Byron marshall. Additionally, you will have Chris Thompson taking snaps in passing situations once he is healthy. Still, Perine is my bet to return the most value in this backfield. I’m targeting him late for now because there’s still a threat of a trade. The longer Washington stands pat, the more I want to add Perine in drafts. He is very underrated in my view. People are putting too much stock in a mediocre rookie season.

195

66

Hill, Jeremy

RB

NE

11

He looked very good in preseason Week 1, but he’s still caught in a very deep backfield so don’t go too crazy just yet. If we gets bad news on Sony Michel, then I may start targeting Hill.

196

8

Texans

DEF

HOU

10

197

4

Matt Bryant

PK

ATL

8

198

5

Wil Lutz

PK

NO

6

199

69

Taylor, Taywan

WR

TEN

8

I love this kid as I old you last year, and it looks like he’s about to breakout. There is a sticking point though. If Rishard Matthews finds himself and gets healthy, Taylor could be a third wheel. My gut says that he overtakes Matthews at some point this year, because he’s such a natural playmaker. Take him late in deep drafts and hope for the breakout.

200

70

Kirk, Christian

WR

ARI

9

He’s moving up and if he starts, he’ll have some PPR appeal. Preseason Week 3 is big for him.

201

25

Butt, Jake

TE

DEN

10

I think he’s the best bet to be the main guy, but he’s young and tight ends often take time. Assuming Butt wins the starting job, he is worth a late round pick because he’s got TE1 upside based on his college film. For now he’s a deep flier in deep leagues, but if he claims the gig, I’m moving him up. He’s a player to watch in August.

202

26

Gesicki, Mike

TE

MIA

11

The athleticism is real and the hands are very real. That said, the nuance is a work in-progress. My guess is that Geisicki gains momentum as the season wears on. He’s worth a look late in deep drafts.

203

28

Tannehill, Ryan

QB

MIA

11

He’s not very good and I worry about him being getting re-injured. The best thing I can say about his situation is that there’s not much talent behind him on the roster. His job is relatively safe for a bad QB coming off of two major knee injuries.

204

9

Patriots

DEF

NE

11

205

10

Broncos

DEF

DEN

10

206

67

Prosise, C.J.

RB

SEA

7

He’s still a huge talent, but he’s been hurt for the bulk of his career to date. So much so that Seattle has drafted another RB to take his place. This does little to diminish CJ’s long term value, which is more about health than short term depth chart concerns, but it definitely hurts his value for 2018. CJ is a name to know and maybe a back to draft in certain large formats. If he can stay healthy for a spell, he could become a compelling long play in dynasty.

207

27

Hurst, Hayden

TE

BAL

10

I love this guy’s game, but it’s hard to know what the Ravens will be this year. They may end up playing a rookie QB much of the time, and as much as I like Lamar Jackson, he’s not likely to be able to support a TE1 as a rookie, especially when that TE is also a rookie. If it’s Flacco for 16 games, I like Hayden’s chances better. He’s a TE2 with some upside. ***He’s out with a broken foot.*** Slow your roll with Hurst and look at him as a deep flier. Should play some time in September.

208

68

Kelly, John

RB

LAR

12

LOVE his talent and skill set, but Gurley is obviously a huge problem. That said, if you want a handcuff, Kelly is my choice with a nod as well to Malcom Brown.

209

69

Hines, Nyheim

RB

IND

9

He’s not going to be a volume guy, at least not right away, but there is plenty of opportunity in Indy, and Hines is a tough competitor with mad speed. I love him on the turf in Indy—paired with a healthy Andrew Luck. They are using him all over the formation according to the beat guys. *** UPDAT*** I still believe in all the good stuff we saw in Hines’ college film, but right now he is going through some fumbl-itis, so his redraft value is rightfully in freefall. I’m still targting him, but much later than I was going into preseason. There’s still a lot of oxygen in the backfield and he could find himself once he gets settled in.

210

71

Gallup, Michael

WR

DAL

8

He has a shot at being the Cowboys’ number one receiver as a rookie, but by my math, that barely makes him a WR3 in 12-team leagues. Don’t reach too much.

211

70

Ekeler, Austin

RB

LAC

8

He’s the best bet to be a handcuff to Gordon, and they do get him touches when Gordon is healthy.

212

71

Edmonds, Chase

RB

ARI

9

He’s the guy to draft if you are looking to handcuff David Johnson.

213

72

Foreman, D'Onta

RB

HOU

10

Still on the PUP list so hard to tell what he’ll be able to do early in the season. If he comes back close to 100 percent, he could become a fantasy factor or at least a vulture for Lamar Miller owners.

214

11

Steelers

DEF

PIT

7

215

6

Jake Elliott

PK

PHI

9

216

7

Mason Crosby

PK

GB

7

217

72

Brown, Jaron

WR

SEA

7

218

73

Wilson, Albert

WR

MIA

11

With Jarvis Landry gone and with DeVante Parker emitting bad vibes in all directions, Wilson is a legit sleeper right now. I think he has multiple routes to playing time because Parker and Danny Amendola both have troubling injury histories. He could also simply beat them out for snaps straight up. If I liked Ryan Tannehill more, I’d have Wilson a bit higher. He’s a name to know right now.

219

74

Williams, Tyrell

WR

LAC

8

He has a wide range of outcomes. If Mike Williams stays healthy this year AND performs to his draft status, then Tyrell is probably a weekly flex option. If M Williams struggles again or if his backs acts up, Tyrell could jump up into the WR3 discussion on a weekly basis. with Hunter Henry done for the season, there are targets to be had in this offense.

220

75

Phillip Dorsett

WR

NE

11

221

28

Kroft, Tyler

TE

CIN

9

Kroft will be a significant factor as long as Eifert’s not playing. Valuing him is tricky. He should be drafted for sure in tight end premium formats, and he’s worth a look in all deep formats.

222

29

Akins, Jordan

TE

HOU

10

He scored twice in the preseason opener so perhaps he’s more ready than I thought. And let’s face it, you can be a little raw in Houston, because the best defenders are going to be worried about Nuk, Fuller and a very mobile quarterback. Akins athleticism alone could make a him a factor in such a strong offense and with such a mediocre depth chart at tight end. He’s a guy to watch closely the next few weeks. He could be a late target in drafts.

223

12

Panthers

DEF

CAR

4

224

76

Callaway, Antonio

WR

CLE

11

225

73

Gallman, Wayne

RB

NYG

9

226

30

Higbee, Tyler

TE

LAR

12

He’s getting better but he’s probably going to be more blovker than target. So many mouths to feed in L.A., and Gerald Everett is also a factor.

227

77

Moncrief, Donte

WR

JAX

9

228

78

Pettis, Dante

WR

SF

11

He has a nice ceiling but his road to volume goes through Pierre Garcon and Trent Taylor. If he can separate from one of both of them, he could be a breakout rookie in PPR leagues. He’s a good fit for Jimmy Garoppolo.

229

79

Jones, Zay

WR

BUF

11

230

80

Amendola, Danny

WR

MIA

11

No longer a cog in a great offense. Still a fine player, but injury-prone and Tannehill-tethered.

231

81

Ginn, Ted

WR

NO

6

I’m a big fan of rookie Tre’Quan Smith, and it would not shock me if Smith ate into the roles of both Ginn and Cameron Meredith. Ginn will be a viable dart throw on most weeks, but I’m not seeing consistent production due to the deep ensemble cast in Big Easy.

232

29

Taylor, Tyrod

QB

CLE

11

How long will he last? I’m thinking about four games but he’s got good talent around him and he adds foot-points so there’s some appeal, espcially if you can find a way to roster Baker Mayfield too.

233

74

Alfred Blue

RB

HOU

10

234

75

Dixon, Kenneth

RB

BAL

10

I’ve always liked his talent, but injuries and PED problems have blunted his early career momentum. He’s got Alex Collins to deal with on early downs and Javorius Allen on passing downs. Dixon may have the most talent of the three, but he’s also been the least available. Early season buzz means more with Dixon than most. If he looks like himself in preseason games, he’ll rise up my board some.

235

30

Flacco, Joe

QB

BAL

10

Meh. He’s been bad and he’s got a hugely talented QB just waiting to take his job. What really sucks is that Jackson could vulture stats before he takes the job in full. Not a Flacco buyer right now though he could be a smart cheap add in 2QB dynasty leagues. There’s a good chance he’s starting somewhere else in 2019.

236

76

Scott, Boston

RB

NO

6

He’s one of my personal sleepers and I think he could have a strong early season run while Mark Ingram is out. If there’s an injury to either Ingram or Kamara, then Scott could be huge in the Saints’ scheme. He’s versatile and dynamic and could be a smaller quicker version of Kamara. ***UPDATE*** Scott was waived and could end up on a new team or on the N.O. practice squad. The Saints were in a roster pinch so don’t read too much into this one. Scott could reemerge quickly. Still a name to know, but I have moved him down some.

237

82

Meredith, Cameron

WR

NO

6

He has a chance to make a fantasy impact, but first he has to show me that he’s the same guy we were watching before the knee injury. He did his ACL but there was “other damage” as well, and these injuries can be tricky when the damage is to multiple areas in the knee. The downtime is lengthier and you have more atrophy to deal with once rehab begins. He’s a candidate to move up, but again, I need to see him first.

238

83

Sanu, Mohamed

WR

ATL

8

Sanu is a solid player and he’s a good value late in best ball leagues. I’m just not feeling him as the co-3rd option in this passing game. I think Hooper and Ridley are going to eat into his targets—making him a tough guy to start in non-best ball formats.

239

31

Mayfield, Baker

QB

CLE

11

He looked great in his first action, but Tyrod Taylor has already been named starter if you can believe it. Not sure I do, but the Browns’ starter is going to have some value this year,

240

77

Samuels, Jaylen

RB

PIT

7

241

78

Ware, Spencer

RB

KC

12

242

79

Damien Williams

RB

KC

12

243

80

Stewart, Jonathan

RB

NYG

9

244

81

Ivory, Chris

RB

BUF

11

As of now, he’s a potential steal, but be realistic. He’s never handled volume well and has a limited skill set. Still, in a non-full-PPR format, he’ll have early season value—assuming LeSean McCoy is done, as it appears he could be.

245

13

Seahawks

DEF

SEA

7

246

14

Bears

DEF

CHI

5

247

31

Goedert, Dallas

TE

PHI

9

Big ceiling but he projects as a role player this year. In deep TE-premium leagues, he make a solid handcuff for Ertz owners.

He’s my favorite tight end in Seattle but Ed Dickson will get playing time too—perhaps more, so Vannett is a waiver wire for now.

254

17

Titans

DEF

TEN

8

255

18

Giants

DEF

NYG

9

256

19

Bengals

DEF

CIN

9

257

20

Browns

DEF

CLE

11

258

8

Matt Prater

PK

DET

6

259

86

Sutton, Courtland

WR

DEN

10

He’s going to have a role but not enough oxygen to make a big impact as a rookie unless something befalls Sanders or Thomas. Sutton has a bright future—whenever that happens.

260

87

Coutee, Keke

WR

HOU

10

261

88

Bruce Ellington

WR

HOU

10

262

89

Smith, Tre'Quan

WR

NO

6

Having a great camp, but his big contributions are likely a year or so away. Definitely a factor if he can earn enough time.

263

9

Robbie Gould

PK

SF

11

264

34

Green, Virgil

TE

LAC

8

265

82

Abdullah, Ameer

RB

DET

6

266

83

McGuire, Elijah

RB

NYJ

11

267

84

Michael, Christine

RB

IND

9

268

85

Sproles, Darren

RB

PHI

9

269

86

Rob Kelley

RB

WAS

4

270

10

Chris Boswell

PK

PIT

7

271

32

Jackson, Lamar

QB

BAL

10

He’s a lottery ticket. Forget all the debates about when he should play or what position he should play. None of it matters. All that matters is that he’s a fantasy monster in waiting. If your roster limits allow for rostering an extra QB, Jackson is a very compelling asset—particularly if you’ve waited on the position and are looking for upside. Just know that he could just as easily sit all year as start games. The thing is, IF he starst games there’s a very good chance that he’s doing in late in the season, when the big fantasy games are played.

272

90

Hurns, Allen

WR

DAL

8

He could be anything from a non-story to a steal. He’s competing with Michael Gallup, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley and Tavon Austin for snaps. I think Hurns will earn a significant role, but even if he does, he feels like a WR5 to me. He does have some upside because he’s a legit deep threat (when healthy) for a team that will force defenses to stack the box. If he gets a solid rapport going with Dak Prescott, you never know. Just don’t reach for him.

273

91

Benjamin, Travis

WR

LAC

8

274

11

Harrison Butker

PK

KC

12

275

12

Graham Gano

PK

CAR

4

276

13

Adam Vinatieri

PK

IND

9

277

92

Tyler Boyd

WR

CIN

9

278

93

Austin, Tavon

WR

DAL

8

279

94

Pryor, Terrelle

WR

NYJ

11

280

21

Chiefs

DEF

KC

12

281

22

Cardinals

DEF

ARI

9

282

95

Mack Hollins

WR

PHI

9

283

23

Lions

DEF

DET

6

284

24

49ers

DEF

SF

11

285

25

Jets

DEF

NYJ

11

286

35

Willson, Luke

TE

DET

6

Assuming he wins the starting gig, he could have some sleeper appeal. Michael Roberts, who’s been dinged up, is his most likely competition.

287

96

Chad Williams

WR

ARI

9

288

97

Seth Roberts

WR

OAK

7

289

98

Smith, Torrey

WR

CAR

4

290

99

Samuel, Curtis

WR

CAR

4

291

100

Beasley, Cole

WR

DAL

8

292

101

White, Kevin

WR

CHI

5

293

26

Bills

DEF

BUF

11

294

27

Cowboys

DEF

DAL

8

295

28

Bucs

DEF

TB

5

296

29

Washington

DEF

WAS

4

297

14

Ryan Succop

PK

TEN

8

298

15

Dan Bailey

PK

FA

8

***UPDATE*** He’s probably going to be a valuable kicker, but after being released by Dallas, he’s still in the process of finding a home. It’s still better than 50/50 that he kicks Week 1, but who knows.

299

102

Chad Hansen

WR

NE

11

300

87

Jacquizz Rodgers

RB

TB

5

301

88

Phillip Lindsay

RB

DEN

10

302

36

Blake Jarwin

TE

DAL

8

Who knows. Maybe he ends up being viable. He’s the early front runner for most of Jason Witten’s vacated snaps.

303

89

Ballage, Kalen

RB

MIA

11

304

103

Chark, D.J.

WR

JAX

9

305

104

Nelson, J.J.

WR

ARI

9

306

105

Coleman, Corey

WR

FA

11

307

16

Brandon McManus

PK

DEN

10

308

106

Marshall, Brandon

WR

SEA

7

309

107

Rashard Higgins

WR

CLE

11

310

108

Kearse, Jermaine

WR

NYJ

11

311

33

Rosen, Josh

QB

ARI

9

This QB battle looks like a tossup. If Rosen wins, he’ll be a reliable starter, but the loss of Bruce Arians has me in wait-and-see mode with this entire offense.

312

34

Allen, Josh

QB

BUF

11

He’s already looking like their best quarterback, but he would be well served to sit and watch for a while. The Bills aren’t winning anything this year without a lot of luck, and even if they could, Allen’s long term development is the most important thing in the Bills’ universe. For fantasy purposes, he’s a risky redraft option outside of 2QB leagues. The Bills are short on skill talent right now unless everything clicks. AJ McCarron’s injury pushes Allen even closer to a full time role. You may see Peterman early, but the switch is coming soon.

313

90

Henderson, De'Angelo

RB

DEN

10

314

91

Mike Davis

RB

SEA

7

315

109

Gabriel, Taylor

WR

CHI

5

316

92

Marcus Murphy

RB

BUF

11

317

93

Walton, Mark

RB

CIN

9

Should be in a deep reserve role as a rookie, but he’s got some legit talent.

318

94

Jackson, Justin

RB

LAC

8

319

95

Richard, Jalen

RB

OAK

7

320

110

Robinson, Demarcus

WR

KC

12

321

111

Chris Conley

WR

KC

12

322

112

Williams, Terrance

WR

DAL

8

323

35

Bradford, Sam

QB

ARI

9

He can be a solid fantasy backup if he wins the job, but I’m not buying outside of 2QB formats because even if he wins it, he can get hurt fast. QB is just too deep to get involved with Bradford. There will almost always be more compelling options in single QB formats.

324

37

Everett, Gerald

TE

LAR

12

He’s going to be a factor at some point, but for now, in a deep offense, the fact that Tyler Higbee is the better inline blocker will hurt his snap count.

325

113

St. Brown, Equanimeous

WR

GB

7

326

114

Richie James

WR

SF

11

327

38

Ian Thomas

TE

CAR

4

328

115

Treadwell, Laquon

WR

MIN

10

329

116

DaeSean Hamilton

WR

DEN

10

330

30

Dolphins

DEF

MIA

11

331

39

Gates, Antonio

TE

FA

Will jump up into the solid TE2 range if they (the Chargers) bring him in, but could remain out of football.

332

40

James, Jesse

TE

PIT

7

He will move up if Vance McDonald’s foot injury proves to be a significant one.

333

96

Washington, DeAndre

RB

OAK

7

334

41

Dickson, Ed

TE

SEA

7

I’m more on Vanett in Seattle, but Dickson played some decent ball last year after Greg Olsen went down. Now he gets an upgrade at QB with Wilson throwing him the ball. He’s a guy to watch early on. Could be a nice sleeper.

335

36

McCown, Josh

QB

NYJ

11

Could be an early option in 2QB leagues, but I am starting to the think Darnold starts game in September if not on Week 1.

336

17

Caleb Sturgis

PK

LAC

8

337

117

Chris Moore

WR

BAL

10

338

18

Brett Maher

PK

DAL

8

339

97

Raheem Mostert

RB

SF

11

340

42

Celek, Garrett

TE

SF

11

He’s a potential factor if George Kittle gets hurt or is slow to recover from his shoulder injury, which appears to be relatively minor.

341

98

Juszczyk, Kyle

RB

SF

11

342

37

Foles, Nick

QB

PHI

9

343

38

Bridgewater, Teddy

QB

NYJ

11

He’s a hold in dynasty because he looked damn good in his first AND second action with the Jets. That said, unless he gets dealt, he’s probably on the bench in NY. Darnold’s time looks like it’s coming soon. Teddy has shown that he’s ok physically and that he is, beyond a doubt, a top 32 quarterback. He’ll probably be starting somewhere in 2019, so he’s a fine add in deeper dynasty formats, especially multiple QB formats.

344

118

Jeremy Kerley

WR

BUF

11

345

119

Moore, J'Mon

WR

GB

7

346

120

Josh Reynolds

WR

LAR

12

347

39

Ryan Fitzpatrick

QB

TB

5

He’ll start for three weeks in bad matchups. Then back to the bench.

348

43

Anderson, Stephen

TE

HOU

10

He could be a factor if Jordan Akins falls back, but Akins looks like to guy to me at this point.

349

121

Rogers, Chester

WR

IND

9

350

44

Shaheen, Adam

TE

CHI

5

Breakout potential here. I think folks are underestimating Shaheen because of Trey Burton, but I doubt that one guy’s playing times has much to do with the other’s because Burton is basically a big slot receiver. Shaheen is a legit freak athlete with after-the-catch ability. I think he ought to be drafted in deeper formats.

351

122

Braxton Miller

WR

FA

10

He’s been cut loose so he has zero redraft appeal and somewhat lowered overall appeal. Still a mega talent, but needs a home and a chance.

352

31

Raiders

DEF

OAK

7

353

19

Josh Lambo

PK

JAC

9

354

45

Clive Walford

TE

NYJ

11

With the Jets improved QB position, no matter who plays, the tight end who wins this gig has a shot at production. Walford is a bit underrated. Could be this year’s ASJ for the NYJ. We’ll have to see if he can win the gig. Neal Sterling looked like he has a chance to win it as well.

355

40

Nathan Peterman

QB

BUF

11

356

99

Wendell Smallwood

RB

PHI

9

357

123

LaFell, Brandon

WR

OAK

7

358

124

Cody Latimer

WR

NYG

9

359

46

Neal Sterling

TE

NYJ

11

Looks like he has a shot at playing time so he’s a guy to watch in August. His main competition in the near term is Clive Walford.

360

41

Brissett, Jacoby

QB

IND

9

361

42

Chad Kelly

QB

DEN

10

He looked very good in his first action and he’s got a real shot at beconing the long term solution at QB for Denver. The real key is his attutude and off-field stuff. If he keeps is head on straight and grinds, he can be a very good NFL starter. Definitely a hold in dynasty formats.

362

20

Daniel Carlson

PK

MIN

10

363

125

Humphries, Adam

WR

TB

5

364

47

Smith, Jonnu

TE

TEN

8

Definitely the guy to add if Delanie goes down. Could breakout under the right circumstances. A name to know for sure. Jonnu is a serious athlete—capable of making the big play from anywhere on the field.

365

126

Snead, Willie

WR

BAL

10

366

127

Butler, Brice

WR

FA

9

367

100

Artis-Payne, Cameron

RB

CAR

4

368

43

Rudolph, Mason

QB

PIT

7

369

128

DeAngelo Yancey

WR

GB

7

370

129

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

WR

GB

7

371

48

Griffin, Ryan

TE

HOU

10

372

21

Kai Forbath

PK

FA

373

130

Auden Tate

WR

CIN

9

374

131

Thompson, Deonte

WR

DAL

8

375

49

Heuerman, Jeff

TE

DEN

10

376

132

Trevor Davis

WR

GB

7

377

101

Williams, Jonathan

RB

FA

6

Could have a role early in Ingram’s absence. There’s some talent here.

378

50

Seth DeValve

TE

CLE

11

379

133

Ryan Switzer

WR

PIT

7

380

44

Mike White

QB

DAL

8

He throws the heck out of the ball, but he’s stuck behind Dak for now.

381

51

Andrews, Mark

TE

BAL

10

382

134

Josh Malone

WR

CIN

9

383

32

Colts

DEF

IND

9

384

22

Ka'imi Fairbairn

PK

HOU

10

385

135

Rashad Greene

WR

JAX

9

386

136

Jordan Lasley

WR

BAL

10

387

52

Roberts, Michael

TE

DET

6

388

137

Johnny Holton

WR

OAK

7

389

45

Hoyer, Brian

QB

NE

11

390

46

Beathard, C.J.

QB

SF

11

391

47

Cody Kessler

QB

JAX

9

392

102

Benny Cunningham

RB

CHI

5

393

103

Scarbrough, Bo

RB

FA

8

A guy to watch in camp. My money is on Rod Smith as the best way to handcuff Zeke Elliott, but Scarbrough has some talent and could certainly be effective running behind the Cowboys’ talent OL.

394

104

Robert Turbin

RB

IND

9

395

138

Leonte Carroo

WR

FA

11

396

48

Brandon Weeden

QB

HOU

10

397

139

ArDarius Stewart

WR

NYJ

11

398

23

Cairo Santos

PK

FA

399

49

Kyle Lauletta

QB

NYG

9

400

140

Stacey Coley

WR

MIN

10

401

141

Andre Holmes

WR

BUF

11

402

50

Davis Webb

QB

NYG

9

Looked suprisingly good in his 2nd preseason appearance, but I’m a Lauletta guy.

403

142

Shelton Gibson

WR

PHI

9

404

143

Markus Wheaton

WR

PHI

9

405

144

Wright, Kendall

WR

FA

10

406

145

Amara Darboh

WR

FA

7

407

146

Noah Brown

WR

DAL

8

408

147

Justin Hardy

WR

ATL

8

409

148

Austin Carr

WR

NO

6

410

149

Rod Streater

WR

BUF

11

411

150

TJ Jones

WR

DET

6

412

51

Chad Henne

QB

KC

12

413

24

Steven Hauschka

PK

BUF

11

414

105

Brown, Malcolm

RB

LAR

12

415

151

Teo Redding

WR

DET

6

416

52

Sean Mannion

QB

LAR

12

417

53

Geno Smith

QB

LAC

8

418

53

Hill, Josh

TE

NO

6

419

54

Matt Barkley

QB

CIN

9

420

152

Tavarres King

WR

MIN

10

421

153

Justin Watson

WR

TB

5

422

55

Trevor Siemian

QB

MIN

10

423

25

Dustin Hopkins

PK

WAS

4

424

26

Phil Dawson

PK

ARI

9

425

27

Cody Parkey

PK

CHI

5

426

28

Chandler Catanzaro

PK

TB

5

427

29

Sebastian Janikowski

PK

SEA

7

428

30

Roberto Aguayo

PK

FA

8

429

31

Zane Gonzalez

PK

CLE

11

430

32

Aldrick Rosas

PK

NYG

9

431

154

Roger Lewis

WR

NYG

9

432

56

Tom Savage

QB

NO

6

433

155

Marcell Ateman

WR

FA

7

434

156

Tajae Sharpe

WR

TEN

8

435

157

Daurice Fountain

WR

IND

9

436

158

Michael Campanaro

WR

TEN

8

437

57

Connor Cook

QB

FA

7

438

58

Matt Schaub

QB

ATL

8

439

59

Landry Jones

QB

PIT

7

440

60

DeShone Kizer

QB

GB

7

441

61

Colt McCoy

QB

WAS

4

442

33

Blair Walsh

PK

FA

443

106

Roc Thomas

RB

MIN

10

444

107

Wadley, Akrum

RB

TEN

8

445

159

Tommylee Lewis

WR

NO

6

446

62

Jake Rudock

QB

DET

6

447

63

Garrett Gilbert

QB

CAR

4

448

160

Matthews, Jordan

WR

FA

449

161

Breshad Perriman

WR

FA

10

450

108

McNichols, Jeremy

RB

FA

11

451

109

Williams, Joe

RB

FA

11

Williams is an odd case, because he gets treated like a bust when his rookie season never got off the ground due to an ankle injury.

452

162

Britt, Kenny

WR

FA

11

453

163

Justin Hunter

WR

PIT

7

454

54

Lewis, Marcedes

TE

GB

7

455

110

T.J Logan

RB

ARI

9

456

164

Russell Gage

WR

ATL

8

457

165

Jarius Wright

WR

CAR

4

458

111

Thomas Rawls

RB

FA

11

459

64

Cooper Rush

QB

DAL

8

460

65

Davis, Austin

QB

SEA

7

461

166

Dylan Cantrell

WR

LAC

8

462

112

Smith, Ito

RB

ATL

8

463

113

Trenton Cannon

RB

NYJ

11

464

114

Travaris Cadet

RB

FA

11

465

55

Jordan Leggett

TE

NYJ

11

466

115

McKissic, J.D.

RB

SEA

7

467

66

Taysom Hill

QB

NO

6

468

67

Chase Daniel

QB

CHI

5

469

68

Brett Hundley

QB

GB

7

470

69

E.J. Manuel

QB

FA

7

471

167

Korey Robertson

WR

MIN

10

472

116

Matt Dayes

RB

CLE

11

473

70

Blaine Gabbert

QB

TEN

8

474

168

Henderson, Carlos

WR

DEN

10

475

169

Thompson, Chris

WR

HOU

10

476

117

Charcandrick West

RB

FA

11

477

118

Byron Marshall

RB

WAS

4

478

56

Gathers, Rico

TE

DAL

8

479

57

Chris Herndon

TE

NYJ

11

480

58

Swaim, Geoff

TE

DAL

8

481

71

David Fales

QB

MIA

11

482

72

Bryce Petty

QB

MIA

11

483

59

Dalton Schultz

TE

DAL

8

484

119

Darrel Williams

RB

KC

12

485

120

Matt Jones

RB

PHI

9

486

121

Zach Zenner

RB

DET

6

487

122

Kerwynn Williams

RB

FA

12

488

123

Josh Adams

RB

PHI

9

489

124

Donnel Pumphrey

RB

FA

9

490

170

Russell Shepard

WR

NYG

9

491

60

Swoope, Erik

TE

IND

9

492

125

Martez Carter

RB

WAS

4

493

61

Thomas, Julius

TE

FA

494

73

McCarron, AJ

QB

OAK

7

He broke his collarbone and is going to be out most of the year and perhaps all of it.

495

62

Xavier Grimble

TE

PIT

7

496

74

Paxton Lynch

QB

DEN

10

497

171

Mitchell, Malcolm

WR

FA

498

126

Sims, Charles

RB

FA

5

IR

499

127

Penny, Elijhaa

RB

ARI

9

500

172

Cain, Deon

WR

IND

9

IR

501

173

Lee, Marqise

WR

JAX

9

Here’s yet another health-dependent target. Lee could post WR2 numbers if he plays a full slate of games and stays relatively healthy. He did manage 14 games last year, but he struggled through some nagging stuff—mostly a sore knee and then a sore ankle late in the season. He’s been getting a little better each year and may be about to put it all together. Jacksonville signed him long term over Allen Robinson for a reason. Lee’s numbers may not look all that great, but he’s had to live through all of Blake Bortles’ struggles. If Bortles can take a small step forward and just gain some consistency, Lee could take off. I really like his upside once 100 or so players are off the board. ****ACL/IR****

502

63

Henry, Hunter

TE

LAC

8

ACL/IR

503

128

DJ Foster

RB

ARI

9

ACL/IR

504

129

Guice, Derrius

RB

WAS

4

I love Guice as a prospect and I think he’ll be the back to own in Washington with all things equal. Of course, he also costs the most by far, and the question is, do you want to pay the going rate? ***ACL/IR****

505

174

Jaleel Scott

WR

BAL

10

Hamstring/IR

506

130

Shane Vereen

RB

NO

6

507

175

Bryant, Martavis

WR

FA

7

He’s worth a roster spot because of his massive ceiling. I’m not that concerned that he’s running behind Jordy Nelson. What DOES concern me is the potential suspension looking oover Bryant’s head. If that cloud dissapears without rain, I will bump Martavis up considerably. This is one of those sketchy situations, but since he is a multiple strike guy, any suspension would likely cost him the season. His upside makes him worth the risk of a roster spot, but make sure you have a decent team in place before adding him.

508

131

McKinnon, Jerick

RB

SF

11

He’s justifiably polarizing, because he’s never done it, but if you want to have him on your fantasy team, you’ll have to pay like he has. Veteran fantasy GMs know all about the potential of a lead back in the Shanahan/Kubiak scheme. McKinnon is slated for that gig in 2018. Rotobahner’s also know how much Coach Turner and I have always liked McKinnon. I’m definitely willing to draft him, but I’m not reaching as high as some folks seem willing to reach (early 2nd round) because he’s not yet a proven volume runner. He has upside and risk in nearly equal measures. So don’t be afraid on J-Mac, but stay sober with your expectations and try to let him fall to you. I’ve downgraded him just a touch in light of his muscle strain near his knee. It’s good news considering the initial reports, but it increases his odds of tweaking it going forward. ****UPDATE - ACL/IR*****